POCKET  EDITION 


CASSIDY'S 

Irish  History 

(  From  Various  Sources  ) 

In  Catechism  Form 


by  Harvey 


HARVEY  B.  CASSIDY,  Publisher 
SYRACUSE,  N.  Y. 


07  A"f\a. 


2059 


PART  I. 
Catechism  of  Irish  History 


CHAPTER  I. 
Early  Inhabitants. 

Q.    When  was  Ireland  first  colonized? 

A.  According  to  Bardic  tradition,  about  three  cem- 
turies  after  the  Deluge  (B.  C.  2000). 

Q.    Who  were  the  first  colonists? 

A.  Parthalonians  from  Greece.  They  were  called 
Parthalonians  from  the  name  of  their  leader,  Parthaloa. 

Q.  Name  the  colonists  who  came  to  Ireland  after 
the  Parthalonians. 

A.  Nemedians,  Fomorians,  Firbolgs,  Damnonians 
and  Milesians. 

Q.  When  were  the  Milesians  said  to  have  come  to 
Ireland? 

A.    About  B.  C.  1700. 

Q.   Why  were  they  named  Milesians? 

A.  From  Milesius,  King  of  Spain,  whose  eight  sons 
were  the  leaders  of  the  colonists  who  came  to  Ireland 
from  Spain. 

Q.  Did  the  Milesians  secure  a  firm  footing  in 
Ireland? 

A.  All  the  kings  of  Ireland,  from  the  coming  of  the 
Milesians  to  the  days  of  Roderic  O'Connor,  Ireland's  last 
king,  are  said  to  have  been  of  the  Milesian  race. 

Q.    How  was  Ireland  governed  under  the  Milesians? 

A.  By  a  number  of  petty  princes,  subject  to  one 
■upreme  monarch,  called  the  Ard-Ri,  who  held  his  court 
at  Tara. 

Q.  How  was  the  succession  to  the  throne  of  Ireland 
regulated? 

A.    By  the  law  of  Tanistry. 

Q.   What  was  the  law  of  Tanistry? 

A.  A  law  ordaining  that  the  royal  successor  should 
be  a  knight  full  twenty-five  years  old;  he  should  be 
AOble,  tall,  and  free  from  blemish,  and  should  prove  hia 
descent  from  the  Milesians. 


4 


Q.  When  did  the  sovereigns  of  the  Milesian  race 
eease  to  be  pagan? 

A.  la  the  fifth  century,  when  Ireland  became 
Christian. 

Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  most  remarkable  kings  of 
pagan  Ireland. 

A.  Ollav  Fola,  Conary  the  Great,  Tuathal,  Con  of 
the  Hundred  Battles,  Cormac  Ulfada,  Niall  of  the  Nine 
Hostages,  and  Dathi. 

Q.  Mention  some  remarkable  acts  attributed  to 
Ollav  Fola. 

A.  He  established  meetings  of  learned  men  and 
nobles,  to  be  held  every  third  year  at  Tara  for  the 
purpose  of  making  laws;  the  acts  of  these  meetings 
were  entered  in  a  great  book,  called  the  Psalter  of 
Tara;    he  also  founded  schools. 

Q.    When  did  Conary  the  Great  reign? 

A.  Conary  the  Great  was  King  of  Ireland  at  the 
time  of  Our  Savior's  birth. 

Q.    How  did  Tuathal  signalize  his  reign? 

A.  He  formed  the  royal  province  of  Meath,  and 
imposed  the  Borumean  tribute  on  the  kingdom  of  Lein- 
ster,  in  revenge  for  a  gross  wrong  done  to  him  by 
the  King  of  Leinster. 

Q.    What  was  the  Borumean  tribute? 

A.  A  tribute  forced  from  the  King  of  Leinster  every 
second  year;  it  consisted  of  slaves,  together  with  a 
number  of  cows  and  hogs. 

Q.  What  event  marked  the  reign  of  Con  of  the 
Hundred  Battles  ? 

A.  The  King  of  Munster  forced  Con  to  agree  to 
a  division  of  Ireland  into  two  parts;  the  Northern  was 
called  Conn's  half,  the  Southern  Mogh's  half. 

Q.  Give  a  brief  account  of  Cormac  Ulfada  (A.  D. 
254). 

A.  He  was  grandson  of  Con  of  the  Hundred  Battles, 
and  the  best  of  the  pagan  kings  of  Ireland.  He  was  a 
great  scholar,  warrior,  and  law-giver.  Having  lost  an 
eye,  he  abdicated,  A.  D.  278. 

Q.  How  did  Niall  of  the  Nine  Hostages  signaliie 
his  reign? 


5 


A.  By  many  warlike  expeditions,  in  one  of  which 
Patrick,  Ireland's  great  apostle  was  among  his  captives. 

Q.    Who  succeeded  Niall  as  king? 

A.  His  nephew  Dathi,  who  was  killed  by  lightning 
at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  about  406.  He  was  the  last 
king  of  pagan  Ireland. 

Q.  What  military  orders  were  established  by  the 
ancient  Irish? 

A.  The  order  of  the  Red  Branch  Knights  and  the 
Fiana  of  Erin. 

Q.    Name  some  remarkable  warriors  of  these  orders. 

A.  Cuchullain  was  the  most  remarkable  of  the  Red 
Branch  Knights;  Finn  MacCuail  and  his  son  Oisin 
were  the  most  noted  of  the  Fiana  of  Erin. 

Q.  What  proofs  may  be  given  that  the  pagan  Irish 
were  highly  civilized? 

A.  The  very  artistic  ornaments  in  gold  and  silver 
that  have  been  discovered  in  Ireland,  the  learning  of 
the  Druids,  and  the  extensive  commerce  that  existed 
between  Ireland  and  foreign  nations,  are  all  proofs  of 
the  high  degree  of  civilization  attained  by  the  ancient 
Irtsh. 

CHAPTER  II. 
Christian  Ireland. 

Q.  Were  there  any  Christians  in  Ireland  before  the 
time  of  St.  Patrick? 

A.  Yes,  for  Pope  Celestine  in  431  sent  Palladius  to 
be  the  first  bishop  "of  the  Irish  believing  in  Christ." 

Q.  What  was  the  result  of  the  mission  of  St.  Pal- 
ladius in  Ireland? 

A.  His  success  was  only  partial,  and  he  died  in 
returning  to  Rome,  432. 

Q.  Who  succeeded  Palladius  in  preaching  the  Gospel 
in  Ireland? 

A.  St.  Patrick,  our  national  apostle,  who  was  sent 
to  Ireland  by  Pope  Celestine  in  432. 

Q.    Where  was  St.  Patrick  born? 

A.  Some  writers  say  near  Dumbarton  in  Scotland, 
others  at  Boulogne-sur-mer  in  France. 


Q.    Who  was  monarch  of  Ireland  at  the  time  of  St. 
Patrick's  arrival? 
A.  Leogaire. 

Q.  Had  St.  Patrick  an  interview  with  the  Irish 
Monarch  Leogaire? 

A.  Yes;  St.  Patrick  was  summoned  by  Leogaire  to 
his  court  at  Tara. 

Q.    Why  was  St.  Patrick  summoned  to  Tara? 

A.  Because  he  had  lighted  the  Paschal  Fire  on  the 
Hill  of  Slane  before  the  fire  in  honor  of  the  Pagan 
Festival  was  kindled  at  Tara. 

Q.  What  was  the  result  of  St.  Patrick's  interview 
with  Leogaire? 

A.  He  was  invited  to  a  discussion  next  day  with 
the  Druids,  or  pagan  priests. 

Q.  How  did  the  discussion  with  the  Druids  ter- 
minate? 

A.  St.  Patrick  silenced  the  Druids  in  argument,  and 
made  many  converts,  and  the  monarch  gave  him  per- 
mission to  preach  wherever  he  wished. 

Q.    Where  did  St.  Patrick  commence  his  preaching? 

A.  At  Teltown  in  Meath,  where  the  public  gamei 
were  being  held. 

Q.  After  preaching  in  Meath,  whither  did  St.  Pat- 
rick go? 

A.  He  travelled  through  the  island,  preaching,  bap- 
tizing, and  establishing  churches. 

Q.  When  did  St.  Patrick  found  the  church  of 
▲nnagh? 

A.  About  455.  Armagh  is  the  primatial  See  of  Ire- 
land; hence  its  Archbishop  is  called  "Primate  of  all 
Ireland." 

Q.  How  long  did  St.  Patrick  labor  in  the  conversion 
of  Ireland? 

A.  Sixty  years;  after  which  he  died  at  Saul,  in 
Ulster,  in  493. 

Q.  What  proud  title  did  Ireland  obtain  after  St. 
Patrick's  death? 

A.    "The  Island  of  Saints  and  Doctors." 

Q.  Have  the  Irish  preserved  the  faith  preached  to 
them  by  St.  Patrick? 


7 


A.  The  Irish,  in  spite  of  persecutions  and  induce- 
ments of  every  kind,  have  ever  kept  the  faith. 

CHAPTER  III. 
"Island  of  Saints  and  Doctors/' 

Q.  What  was  Ireland's  claim  to  the  proud  title  of 
"Island  of  Saints  and  Doctors"? 

A.  The  fanae  of  her  sanctity  was  spread  far  and 
wide,  and  her  schools  were  amongst  the  most  renowned 
In  Europe. 

Q.  What  period  is  called  the  "Golden  Age  of  the 
Irish  Church"? 

A.    The  sixth,  seventh,  and  eighth  centuries. 

Q.  What  does  Ware  say  of  the  schools  of  Ireland 
during  these  centuries? 

A.  That  the  youth  of  France,  Germany,  and  Switzer- 
land flocked  to  them  in  search  of  knowledge. 

Q.  What  does  Venerable  Bede  say  of  the  schools 
of  Ireland? 

A.  That  Ireland,  in  a  special  manner,  showed  her 
generosity  to  the  English  nobility  and  gentry,  teaching 
them  without  fee  or  reward. 

Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  greatest  Irish  schools  of  the 
fifth  century. 

A.    Emly,  Armagh,  Sletty,  Ardagh. 

Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  schools  founded  in  Ireland  in 
the  sixth  and  following  centuries. 

A.  Clonard,  in  Meath;  Clonmacnolse,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Shannon;  Bangor,  in  Down;  Lismore,  in  Water- 
ford;   and  many  others. 

Q.  What  testimony  does  the  Saxon  writer  Aldhelm 
bear  to  the  learning  of  our  sainted  forefathers? 

A.  He  describes  Ireland  as  rich  in  the  wealth  of 
icience,  and  as  thickly  set  with  learned  men  as  the 
poles  are  with  stars. 

Q.  Did  the  Children  of  St.  Patrick  conflne  their 
missionary  labors  to  Ireland? 

A.  No;  swarms  of  holy  men  left  the  Irish  shores 
to  preach  to  the  nations  of  Europe. 

Q.  What  does  St.  Bernard  say  of  Ireland  as  a  mis- 
sionary country? 


8 


A.  That  from  Ireland,  as  from  an  overflowing  stream, 
crowds  of  holy  men  descended  on  foreign  nations. 

Q.  Name  some  of  the  countries  of  Europe  indebted 
to  Ireland  for  Apostles. 

A.  France,  Grermany,  Switzerland,  Italy,-  Spain  and 
England. 

Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  Illustrious  men  whom  Ireland 
g|tve  as  missionaries  to  European  nations. 

A.  Ireland  gave  Columbanus  to  Italy;  Gall  to  Swit- 
zerland; Kilian  and  Virgilius  to  Germany. 

Q.  Are  many  churches  on  the  Continent  named  after 
Irish  apostles? 

A.  In  Germany  alone  no  fewer  than  200  churches 
are  dedicated  to  Irish  apostles. 

Q.    Who  was  St.  Columkille? 

A.  St.  Columkille,  or  Columba,  was  descended  from 
Niall  the  Great,  and  was  born  at  Gartan,  Co.  Donegal, 
A.  D.  521.  He  studied  under  St.  Finian  at  Moville,  and 
also  under  another  St.  Finian  at  Clonard.  He  founded 
the  monastery  of  Derry,  A.  D.  546,  and  one  at  Durrow, 
A.  D.  550. 

Q.  Relate  the  dispute  about  St.  Finian's  book.  How 
was  it  settled? 

A.  St.  Columkille  copied  without  permission  part  of 
a  book  which  had  been  lent  to  him  by  St.  Finian,  and 
St.  Finian  claimed  the  copy.  The  dispute  was  referred 
to  King  Diarmaid,  whose  decision  was  that,  **To  every 
cow  belongeth  its  calf,  and  to  every  book  its  copy." 

Q.    On  leaving  Ireland,  where  did  St.  Columba  go? 

A.  In  563,  St.  Columba,  with  twelve  companions, 
sailed  to  lona,  a  small  island  off  the  west  coast  of 
Scotland,  and  established  there  a  church  and  monastery. 

Q.    When  did  St.  Columkille  die? 

A.  He  died  at  lona,  A.  D.  597,  and  was  succeeded  , 
by  St.  Adamnan. 

Q.    Give  a  brief  account  of  St.  Columbanus. 

A.  St.  Columbanus  was  bom  in  539.  He  founded 
the  abbey  of  Luxeil  in  France,  and  the  abbey  of  Bobbio 
In  Italy,  where  he  died  in  615. 

Q.    Who  was  St.  Gall? 


A.  St.  Gall  was  a  disciple  of  St.  Columbanus;  he 
became  the  Apostle  of  the  Swiss,  and  founded,  In  Swit- 
zerland, the  abbey  and  town  called  by  his  name. 

Q.    Who  was  John  Scotus  Erigena? 

A.  He  was  an  Irishman  of  great  learning  who  lived 
in  the  ninth  century.   He  taught  philosophy  in  Paris. 

Q.  Name  any  other  remarkable  Irish  scholars  of 
this  period. 

A.  Claud  Clemens  and  John  Albin,  to  whose  care 
Charlemagne  confided  the  two  universities  which  he 
founded  in  Paris  and  Pavia. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
From  the  Death  of  St.  Patrick  to  the  Danish  Invasion. 

Q.    Who  succeeded  King  Leogaire? 
A.    Oliol,  son  of  Dathi,  in  463. 
A.    How  did  Oliol  die? 

A.    Oliol  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Ocha,  in  Meath, 
in  483,  and  Lewy,  son  of  Leogaire,  came  to  the  throne. 
Q.    Who  was  Fergus  More? 

A.  Fergus  More  was  one  of  the  Dalriads  of  Antrim, 
who  in  503  joined  the  descendants  of  their  countrymen 
who  had  previously  settled  in  Alba.  Fergus  became 
king  of  the  colony  which  in  course  of  time  conquered 
all  Alba,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Scotland. 

Q.  What  was  the  object  of  the  great  National  As- 
sembly of  Drumceat? 

A.  The  Assembly  of  Drumceat,  near  Derry,  was 
held  in  574,  chiefly  to  decide  two  important  questions, 
viz.  the  suppr(3ssion  of  the  Bards,  and  the  claim  of  the 
Dalriadic  King  of  Scotland  to  be  independent  of  the 
King  of  Ireland. 

Q.    What  decisions  were  arrived  at? 

A.  Owing  to  the  influence  of  St.  Columkille,  it  was 
agreed  to  limit  the  number  of  Bards  and  the  rights 
which  they  claimed;  and  the  Irish  King  Hugh  agreed 
to  acknowledge  the  independence  of  the  king  of  Scot- 
tish Dalrlada. 

Q.    What  led  to  the  battle  of  Moira? 

A.  Congall,  an  Ulster  prince,  had  slain  the  reigning 
king,  and  was  forced  by  King  Donall  to  fly  to  Britain. 


10 


From  this  country  he  invaded  Ireland  with  a  large  army; 
but  Donall  defeated  his  army  at  Moira,  County  Down, 
in  637. 

Q.    What  great  calamity  befell  Ireland  in  664? 

A.  A  plague  raged  through  the  land  for  three  years. 
According  to  the  Annalists,  only  one-third  of  the  inhab- 
itants survived  its  ravages. 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  Danish  Invasion. 

Q.    Who  were  the  Danes? 

A.  The  Danes  were  a  race  of  pirates  who  inhabited 
Scandinavia  and  the  Islands  of  the  Baltic. 

Q.  When  did  the  Danes  make  their  first  attack  on 
Ireland  ? 

A.    Towards  the  close  of  the  eighth  century. 

Q.    How  long  did  the  Danish  wars  in  Ireland  last? 

A.    About  300  years. 

Q.  Give  an  idea  of  the  ravages  committed  by  the 
Danes  in  Ireland. 

A.  They  plundered  many  churches  and  monasteries, 
and  among  them  the  Abbey  of  Bangor,  killing  the  abbot 
and  900  monks.  Connaught  and  part  of  Leinster  were 
laid  waste  by  them. 

Q.  In  what  parts  of  Ireland  did  the  Danes  make 
settlements? 

A.    Early  in  the  ninth  century  the  Danes  had  secured 
possession  of  Dublin,  Limerick  and  Waterford. 
Q.    Who  was  Turgesius? 

A.  Turgesius  was  the  most  remarkable  of  the  Danish 
chiefs.  He  united  the  Danes  scattered  throughout  Ire- 
land, and  was  acknowledged  king  by  them. 

Q.    How  did  Turgesius  die? 

A.  Malachi,  King  of  Meath,  having  got  him  into 
his  power,  condemned  him  to  be  drowned  in  Lough 
Owel,  in  845. 

Q.  When,  and  between  whom,  was  the  battle  of 
Carlingford  fought? 

A.  In  852,  between  two  parties  of  Danes,  the  Dubh- 
gals  and  Fingals;    the  latter  were  victorious. 


11 


Q.    Give  a  short  ac,count  of  Cormac  MacCuillenan. 

A.  Cormac  MacCuillenan,  Bishop  of  Lismore,  and 
afterwards  of  Cashel,  became  King  of  Munster  In  903. 
In  striving  to  force  tribute  from  Leinster,  he  was  killed 
in  battle  at  Ballaghmoon,  County  Carlow,  A.  D.  908. 
Cormac  compiled  the  Psalter  of  Cashel,  and  wrote  a 
book  on  the  Irish  saints. 

Q.    When  did  Malachy  II.  become  King  of  Ireland? 

A.  In  980.  In  thel)revious  year  he  had  defeated  the 
Danes  of  Dublin  in  the  battle  of  Tara. 

Q.    How  did  he  get  the  "Collar  of  Gold"? 

A.  In  one  of  his  expeditions  against  the  Danes  he 
slew  a  chieftain,  and  took  from  him  the  tore  or  "Collar 
of  Gold." 

Q.    Who  was  Brian  Boru? 

A.  He  was  son  of  Kennedy,  Prince  of  the  Dalca* 
sians.  In  976  he  succeeded  his  brother  Mahon  as  King 
of  Munster,  and  in  1001  Malachy  II.  yielded  to  him  th9 
position  of  Ard-Ri. 

Q.    How  did  Brian  Boru  signalize  his  reign? 

A.  He  founded  churches,  schools,  and  monasteries, 
built  bridges,  made  wise  laws,  and  secured  their  obser 
▼ance. 

Q.  By  whom  were  the  Danes  finally  overthrown  in 
Ireland? 

A.  By  Brian  Boru,  at  the  battle  of  Clontarf,  fought 
on  Good  Friday,  1014. 

Q.    How  did  Brian  die? 

A.    He  was  slain  in  his  tent  by  a  Danish  chief  in  th« 
moment  of  his  great  victory  at  Clontart 
Q.    Who  succeeded  Brian  Boru? 

A.  On  the  death  of  Brian,  Malachy  II.  was  again 
recognized  as  king.  He  died  in  1022  on  an  island  in 
Lough  Ennel,  whither  he  had  gone  to  prepare  for  death. 

Q.  How  did  King  Murtough  O'Brien  prove  himself  a 
patron  of  the  Church? 

A.  In  1101  he  made  a  gift  to  the  Church  of  the 
royal  city  of  Cashel. 

Q.    When  did  Turlogh  O'Connor  reign? 

A.    From  1136  to  1156. 


12 


Q.  When  and  between  whom  was  the  battle  of 
Moanmore  fought? 

A.  In  1151,  between  the  O'Briens  of  Munster  and 
King  Turlogh  O'Connor;  it  resulted  in  the  conquest  of 
Munster  by  the  latter. 

Q.    Who  succeeded  King  Turlogh? 

A.    His  son  Roderic,  in  1166. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Anglo-Norman  Invasion. 

Q.  What  is  the  date  of  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion 
of  Irelamd? 

A.    The  Anglo-Normans  invaded  Ireland  in  1169. 

Q.  What  led  to  the  invasion  of  Ireland  by  the 
Anglo-Normans  in  1169? 

A.  Dermod  MacMurrough,  King  of  Leinster,  being  at 
war  with  some  of  the  native  princes,  sought  aid  from 
England. 

Q.  Who  was  King  of  England  at  the  time  of  the 
Invasion? 

A.    Henry  II. 

Q.    Did  Henry  II.  come  in  person  to  Ireland? 

A.  Yes,  in  1172;  but  the  half-brothers,  Fitzgerald 
and  Fitzstephen,  as  well  as  Strongbow,  preceded  him. 

Q.  Where  did  the  Anglo-Normans  first  effect  a  land- 
ing in  Ireland? 

A.    At  Wexford,  under  Fitzstephen,  in  1169. 

Q.  Did  MacMurrough  and  his  allies  succeed  in  tak- 
ing Wexford? 

A.  Yes;  MacMurrough  having  join'ed  the  adventur- 
ers, the  town,  after  some  resistance,  fell  into  their 
hands. 

Q.  What  place  was  next  captured  by  MacMurrough 
and  his  allies? 

A.  Waterford,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  and 
then  Dublin. 

Q.  Whither  did  Dermod  MacMurrough  and  his  allies 
direct  their  steps  after  taking  Dublin? 

A.  Towards  the  territory  of  O'Rourke,  Prince  of 
Breffney,  ravaging  his  lands  and  destroying  churches. 


13 


Q.  Who  was  monarch  of  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the 
Anglo-Norman  invasion? 

A.    Roderic  O'Connor. 

Q.    Who  was  St.  Laurence  O'Toole? 

A.  St.  Laurence  O'Toole  was  Archbishop  of  Dublin 
at  the  time  of  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion.  He  used 
every  effort  to  arouse  his  countrymen  against  the 
invaders. 

Q.  How  was  Henry  H.  received  on  coming  to  Ireland 
in  1172? 

A.  All  the  Irish  princes  submitted  to  him,  except 
the  O'Neills,  the  O'Donnells,  and  a  few  others. 

Q.  How  did  Henry  II.  act  on  coming  to  Ireland  in 
1172? 

A.  Contrary  to  his  promise  to  the  Holy  See,  he 
parcelled  out  the  lands  of  the  Irish  amongst  his  favorites. 

Q.  What  happened  on  the  departure  of  Henry  11. 
from  Ireland? 

A.  The  Irish  chieftains,  enraged  ^at  seeing  their 
lands  in  the  hands  of  foreigners,  threw  off  the  yoke  and 
rose  to  a  man. 

Q.  Were  the  Irish  successful  in  their  attempts  to 
drive  the  Norman  invaders  from  the  country? 

A.  No;  dissension  amongst  themsel\^s  rendered 
their  efforts  unavailing. 

Q.  What  was  the  portion  of  Ireland  possessed  by 
the  English  called? 

A.  The  Pale;  it  comprised  Dublin,  Kildare,  Meath, 
and  Louth,  together  with  the  cities  of  Waterford,  Cork, 
and  Limerick. 

Q.  What  was  the  condition  of  the  Irish  living  within 
the  Pale? 

A.    They  were  in  a  state  of  servitude. 
Q.    What  were  the  Irish  living  outside  the  Pale 
called? 

A.    "Irish  Enemies." 

Q.  Who  came  to  the  relief  of  the  Irish  during  the 
reign  of  Edward  II.? 

A.  Edward  Bruce,  brother  to  Robert  Bruce,  King  of 
Scotland,  came  to  Ireland  in  1315  with  a  large  body 
of  troops. 


14 


Q.  What  success  attended  Edward  Bruce's  efforts 
in  Ireland? 

A.  Bruce  was  so  successful  that  he  was  proclaimed 
and  crowned  King  of  Ireland.  In  three  and  a  half  years 
he  fought  and  won  18  battles,  but  in  1318  was  defeated 
and  slain  in  a  battle  fought  near  Dundalk. 

Q.    When  was  the  Statute  of  Kilkenny  enacted? 

A.    In  1367,  during  the  reign  of  Edward  III. 

Q.  What  does  Lord  Clare  say  of  the  Statute  of 
Kilkenny? 

A.  That  it  was  a  perpetual  declaration  of  war 
against  the  native  Irish,  as  well  as  against  those  who 
had  formed  connections  with  them. 

Q.  'Give  a  few  of  the  provisions  of  the  Statute  of 
Kilkenny. 

A.  Intermarriage  with  the  natives  should  be  pun- 
ished by  death;  any  man  of  English  race  taking  an 
Irish  name,  using  the  Irish  language,  dress,  or  customs, 
should  forfeit  all  his  lands. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Richard  II. — Art  MacMurrough  Kavanagh. 

Q.  What  great  and  formidable  chieftain  had  Richard 
II.  to  encounter  in  Ireland? 

A.    Art  MacMurrough  Kavanaugh,  Prince  of  Leinster. 

Q.    When  did  Richard  II.  pay  his  first  visit  to  Ireland? 

A.  In  1394,  Richard  landed  in  Waterford  with  an 
army  of  more  than  30,000  men. 

Q.  How  was  Richard  II.  received  by  the  Irish 
princes? 

A.  Many  of  them  paid  homage  to  him,  but  threw  off 
their  forced  allegiance  the  instant  he  left  the  country. 

Q.  What  great  reverse  did  the  Anglo-Irish  meet 
after  the  departure  of  Richard  II.  for  England? 

A.  They  were  defeated  in  a  great  battle  at  Kells, 
In  County  Kilkenny,  in  1397;  Mortimer,  heir  to  the 
crown  of  England,  was  slain  in  this  battle. 

Q.  How  did  Richard  II.  act  on  receiving  news  of 
the  death  of  Mortimer? 

A.  He  at  once  set  out  for  Ireland,  and  directed  all 
his  efforts  against  Art.  MacMurrough. 


15 


Q.  How  did  Art  MacMurrough  carry  on  the  warfare 
agaiBSt  Richard  11.  ? 

A.  He  harassed  him  by  retiring  into  the  forests  and 
fastnesses  at  his  approach,  making  sudden  attacks  on 
Richard's  army  as  occasion  offered. 

Q.  What  rash  oath  did  Richard  II.  take  when  he 
was  disappointed  in  his  attempt  to  subdue  MacMurr- 
ough? 

A.  That  ho  would  not  leave  Ireland  till  he  had  Art 
MacMurrough,  dead  or  alive,  in  his  hands. 

Q.  Did  Richard  II.  redeem  -the  rash  oath  he  had 
taken  regarding  MacMurrough? 

A.  No;  neither  Richard  nor  his  successor,  Henry 
IV.,  succeeded  in  subduing  this  brave  chieftain.  Mac- 
Murrough died  at  Ross,  1417,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  V. 

Q.  What  was  the  state  of  Ireland  from  1417  to  the 
accession  of  Henry  VIII.,  1509? 

A.  The  country  was  much  disturbed  by  the  contests 
between  the  Butlers  and  the  Geraldines,  the  two  prin- 
cipal families  of  the  Pale. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Henry  VIII. 

Q.  Was  Henry  VIII.  always  an  enemy  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church? 

A.  No;  he  was  at  one  time  a  most  ardent  defender 
of  the  Church. 

Q.  What  title  did  Pope  Leo  X.  bestow  on  Henry 
VIII.  for  his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  the  Church? 

A.  He  bestowed  on  him  the  title  of  ^'Defender  of 
the  Faith,'*  a  title  still  retained  by  the  English  sov- 
ereigns. 

Q.    Why  did  Henry  VIII.  apostasise? 

A.  Because  the  Pope,  Clement  VII.,  refused  to  di- 
vorce him  from  his  lawful  wife,  Queen  Catherine. 

Q.  How  did  Henry  VIII.  act  on  a  divorce  having  beent 
refused  him  by  Clement  VII.? 

A.  He  determined  to  become  Head  of  the  Church 
himself,  thereby  rejecting  the  authority  of  the  Pope  In 
his  dominions. 


16 


Q.    Did  Henry  VIII.  succeed  in  his  attempt  to  become 
Head  of  the  Church  in  Ireland? 
A.    No;  he  failed  signally. 

Q.  Give  an  idea  of  Henry  VIII.'s  persecution  of  the 
Irish  Church. 

A.  In  his  reign  all  the  abbeys  and  monasteries  were 
suppressed  and  their  lands  seized  by  the  Crown;  the 
Houses  of  Hospitality  for  strangers,  2,000  in  number, 
were  suppressed  and  their  property  confiscated. 

Q.    Did  Henry  VIII.  spare  the  churches  in  Ireland? 

A.  No;  his  sacrilegious  hand  desecrated  the 
churches,  and  the  images  and  relics  of  the  saints  were 
either  broken  or  burned. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Edward  VI — Elizabeth — The  Geraldines. 

Q.  How  did  the  people  of  Ireland  fare  during  the 
reign  of  Edward  VI.? 

A.    No  better  than  in  that  of  Henry  VIII. 

Q.  What  is  said  of  Elizabeth's  treatment  of  the 
Irish? 

A.  That  her  reign  was  one  unbroken  series  of  rob- 
beries and  butcheries  in  Ireland. 

Q.  How  were  those  punished  by  Elizabeth  who  main- 
tained that  the  Pope  was  head  of  the  Church? 

A.  They  forfeited  their  estates,  and  in  many  cases 
their  lives. 

Q.  Give  an  instance  to  show  the  measures  resorted 
to  in  Ireland  to  enforce  the  Oath  of  Supremacy  during 
the  reign  of  Elizabeth. 

A.  Doctor  O'Hurley,  Archbishop  of  Cashel,  had  his 
legs  placed  in  jack-boots  filled  with  lime,  until  they  were 
burned  to  the  bone;  he  was  then  executed  (1579). 

Q.  How  did  the  priests  minister  to  their  flocks  in 
Ireland  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth? 

A.  By  stealth,  and  frequently  in  caves  on  the  moun- 
tain side. 

Q.  How  were  the  Irish  clergy  treated*  during  the 
reign  of  Elizabeth? 

A.    They  were  cast  into  prison,  or  put  to  death. 


17 


Q.    What  caused  the  Geraldine  rebellion? 

A.  The  cruelty  of  the  English  in  their  efforts  to 
uproot  the  Catholic  religion  and  the  Imprisonment  of 
the  Earl  of  Desmond  and  his  brother. 

Q.  How  did  James  Fltzmaurice,  head  of  the  House 
of  Desmond,  act  during  the  imprisonment  of  the  Earl 
of  Desmond? 

A.  He  sought  aid  from  the  Catholic  courts  of 
Europe. 

Q.  Was  Fitzmaurice  successful  In  his  appeal  for 
foreign  aid  against  Elizabeth? 

A.  Yes;  he  obtained  aid  from  Spain  in  1579,  and 
a  small  fleet,  manned  by  Spaniards,  cast  anchor  in 
Smerwick  harbor,  Kerry.  Here  they  erected  a  fortifica- 
tion known  as  Fort  Del  Ore. 

Q.  What  became  of  the  Spanish  forces  that  came 
to  aid  the  Irish  in  1579? 

A.  The  transports  were  taken  by  the  EJnglish,  but 
the  troops  effected  a  retreat,  in  which  Fitzmaurice  waa 
slain,  in  1579. 

Q.  Who  commanded  for  the  House  of  Desmond  after 
the  death  of  Fitzmaurice? 

A.  John  of  Desmond,  and  afterwards  the  Earl,  his 
brother. 

Q.  Did  John  of  Desmond  and  the  Earl  receive  for- 
eign aid  in  their  war  with  Elizabeth? 

A.  Yes;  a  force  from  Spain  again  entered  Smerwick 
harbor  in  1580. 

Q.    What  was  the  fate  of  this  expedition? 

A.  It -was  defeated  by  the  English  troops  under  Lord 
Grey,  and  the  garrison  of  Smerwick  were  inhumanly 
put  to  the  sword;  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  was  the  chief 
actor  in  the  horrible  scene. 

Q.  What  became  of  the  Desmonds  after  their  defeat 
at  Smerwick,  1580? 

A.  Their  cause  never  rallied.  The  Earl  was  mur- 
dered, his  head  was  cut  off,  and  sent  by  Ormond  to 
Elizabeth,  1583. 

Q.  What  became  of  the  estates  of  the  Desmonds 
after  the  death  of  the  Earl  in  1583? 


18 


A.  Their  estates,  comprising  600,000  acres,  were 
confiscated  and  divided  amongst  English  adventurers. 

CHAPTER  X. 
Elizabeth— The  O'Neills  and  the  O'Donnells 
Death  of  Elizabeth. 

Q.  Had  Elizabeth  any  opposition  to  contend  with  in 
Ireland  after  the  overthrow  of  the  Desmonds? 

A,  Yes;  Ulster,  the  stronghold  of  the  O'Neills  and 
the  O'Donnells,  had  yet  to  be  subdued. 

Q.  What  crafty  means  did  Elizabeth  adopt  for  the 
Anglicizing  of  the  North? 

A.  She  had  a  youth  of  the  noble  house  of  O'Neill 
brought  up  at  her  court,  hoping  thereby  to  effect  a 
division  in  the  sept. 

Q.  Did  Hugh  O'Neill,  who  had  been  brought  up  at 
the  court  of  Elizabeth,  identify  himself  in  after  years 
with  his  olan? 

A.    He  did,  to  the  full. 

Q.  What  remarkable  chieftain  had  the  English  to 
battle  with  In  the  North  besides  O'Neill? 

A.    O'Donnell,  Prince  of  Tyrconnell. 

Q.  Where  did  the  forces  of  Hugh  O'Neill  first  en- 
counter those  of  Elizabeth? 

A.  At  Clontibret,  in  Monaghan,  where  the  Irish  won 
a  great  victory  in  1595. 

Q.  What  was  the  greatest  battle  fought  during  this 
war? 

A.  The  battle  of  the  Yellow  Ford  in  Armagh  in  1598 
The  English  were  routed,  leaving  more  than  2,000  dead 
upon  the  field. 

Q.  Who  were  the  leaders  on  each  side  at  the  battle 
of  the  Yellow  Ford? 

A.  Hugh  O'Neill  and  Hugh  O'Donnell  on  the  Irish 
side,  and  Marshal  Bagenal,  who  fell  in  the  battle,  on 
the  side  of  the  English. 

Q.  How  did  Elizabeth  act  on  seeing  her  soldiers 
defeated  in  every  battle  by  O'Neill? 

A.  She  despatched  an  army  of  20,000  men  to  Ireland, 
under  the  command  of  Essex,  1599. 


19 


Q.    Did  Essex  succeed  in  subduing  O'Neill? 

A.    No;  he  failed  signally,  and  returned  to  England. 

Q.  How  was  the  war  between  Elizabeth  and  O'Neill 
brought  to  a  close? 

A.  O'Neill,  after  his  many  victories,  was  at  length 
forced  to  yield  and  come  to  terms  with  the  deputy, 
Mountjoy,  in  1603.   Elizabeth  died  the  same  year. 

Q.  How  did  the  Irish  Catholics  act  on  hearing  of 
the  death  of  Elizabeth,  1603? 

A.  They  at  once  took  possession  of  the  churches; 
and  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  again  offered  up  in  the 
churches  of  Cork,  Limerick,  Waterford,  Kilkenny,  Cashel 
and  other  places. 

Q.  What  does  Dr.  White,  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Water- 
ford,  say  of  the  devoted  Catholics  of  that  city  on  the 
restoration  of  their  Cathedral  Church  after  Elizabeth's 
death? 

A.  That  when,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1603,  the  Cathe- 
dral bells  pealed  forth  the  summons  to  solemn  thanks- 
giving, nothing  but  rejoicing  was  to  be  seen,  and  many 
shed  tears  of  joy  on  witnessing  that  gladsome  spectacle. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
James  I. — Persecutions  During  His  Reign — 
Plantation  of  Ulster. 

Q.  Who  came  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of  Eliza- 
beth in  1603? 

A.    James  I.,  son  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Q.    How  did  James  I.  treat  his  Irish  subjects? 

A.  In  somewhat  the  same  fashion  as  did  Elizabeth; 
his  first  message  to  Ireland  was  that  he  would  not  tol- 
erate the  Catholic  religion. 

Q.  What  edict  did  James  I.  issue  against  the  Irish 
Catholics  in  1605? 

A.  He  commanded  them  to  attend  the  Protestant 
churches  on  Sundays  and  Festivals;  he  also  ordered 
all  priests  to  leave  the  kingdom  within  three  months. 

Q.  Was  the  edict  of  James  I.  against  the  Irish  Cath- 
olics, in  1605,  put  into  execution? 


20 


A.  Yes;  almost  immediately  after  it  had  been 
issued,  several  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Dublin  were 
cast  into  prison  for  refusing  to  comply  with  it. 

Q.  Did  the  persecution  under  James  I.  extend  be- 
yond Dublin? 

A.  Yes;  few  parts  of  the  country  escaped,  but  to 
Waterford  the  place  of  honor  must  be  assigned. 

Q.  How  did  the  city  of  Waterford  distinguish  itself 
during  the  persecution  of  James  L? 

A.  The  members  of  the  Corporation  and  the  citizens 
vied  with  each  other  in  devoted  attachment  to  the  faith, 
not  even  one  among  them  was  found  to  prove  false  to 
his  religion. 

Q.  How  did  James  I.  treat  the  people  of  Waterford 
for  their  devotion  to  their  holy  faith? 

A.  He  imposed  heavy  fines  on  them,  and  deprived 
the  Corporation  of  its  charter  in  1617. 

Q.  What  venerable  Irish  prelate  was  led  to  the 
scaffold  during  the'reign  of  James  I.? 

A.  Dr.  Devany,  Bishop  of  Down  and  Connor,  in 
his  eightieth  year.  On  the  same  day  Father  O'Lough- 
rane  accompanied  him  to  martyrdom. 

Q.  What  honourable  testimony  does  Pope  Paul  V. 
give  of  our  heroic  forefathers  in  Ireland  during  the 
reign  of  James  I.? 

A.  *'That  they  gloried  in  that  faith  by  which  their 
fathers  had  procured  for  their  country  the  distinguished 
appellation  of  the  Island  of  Saints.'* 

Q.    How  did  James  I.  treat  the  Northern  chieftains? 

A.  He  confirmed  to  O'Neill  the  title  of  Earl  of  Ty- 
rone, and  to  O'Donnell  that  of  Tyrconnell. 

Q.  Did  O'Neill  and  O'Donnell  continue  in  favor  with 
James  I.? 

A.  No;  they  met  with  a  sad  reverse;  their  estates 
were  confiscated  and  handed  over  to  English  and  Scotch 
adventurers. 

Q.  What  extent  of  territory  was  confiscated  by 
James  I.  in  the  North? 

A.    Six  entire  counties — 385,000  acres. 

Q.  What  became  of  the  Earls  of  Tyrone  and  Tyrcon- 
nell after  the  confiscation  of  their  estates? 


21 


A.  They  fled  from  Ireland,  and  so  escaped  the  Gov- 
ernment plot  against  their  lives. 

Q.    What  is  the  date  of  the  flight  of  the  Earls? 
A.  1607. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Charles  I.— -1625-1649. 

Q.  What  was  the  state  of  Ireland  during  the  reign 
of  Charles  1.  (1625-1649)? 

A.  The  Irish  were  persecuted  for  their  religion,  plun- 
dered of  their  property,  and  denied  justice. 

Q.  How  did  the  Protestant  Bishops  of  Ireland  act 
on  seeing  the  Irish  persecuted  for  theif  religion  during 
the  reign  of  Charles  I.? 

A.  They  issued  a  declaration  stating  that  '*Popery" 
was  a  grievous  sin. 

Q.  How  did  some  Englishmen  express  their  hostility 
to  the  faith  of  the  Irish? 

A.  Sir  John  Clotworthy  said  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons that  the  conversion  of  the  "Papists"  was  to  be 
effected  only  by  the  Bible  in  one  hand  and  the  sword 
in  the  other;  and  Sir  William  Parsons  boasted  that 
before  a  twelvemonth  not  a  Catholic  would  be  seen 
in  the  land. 

Q.  How  did  the  Parliament  of  England  express  itself 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.  regarding  the  Catholic  religion 
in  Ireland? 

A.  Parliament  declared,  in  1641,  that  it  would  not 
consent  to  the  toleration  of  Popery  in  Ireland. 

Q.  How  did  the  Irish  act,  having  been  driven  to 
desperation,  during  the  reign  of  Charles  I.? 

A.    They  took  up  arms  in  self-defense,  1641. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Confederation  of  Kilkenny. 

Q.  What  action  did  the  Irish  (Jhurch  take  on  seeing 
the  people  in  arms  in  1642? 

A.  The  Clergy  and  Prelates  of  Ireland  met  at  Kil- 
kenny, 10th  May,  1642,  and  declared  the  war  both  just 
and  necessary. 


22 


Q.  What  followed  the  meeting  ot  the  Clergy  and 
Prelates  in  Kilkenny,  1642? 

A.  A  general  assembly  of  11  Bishops,  14  Temporal 
Peers,  and  226  Commoners. — "The  Kilkenny  Confedera- 
tion." 

Q.  Where  did  the  Irish  Confederate  Parliament  hold 
its  sessions? 

A.    In  Kilkenny. 

Q.  What  was  the  first  act  of  the  Confederate  Par- 
liament, sitting  in  Kilkenny,  1642? 

A.  The  restoration  of  the  splendid  old  fane  of  St. 
Canice,  in  that  city,  to  its  lawful  owners,  our  Catholic 
forefathers. 

Q.  How  did  our  countrymen  abroad  act  when  the 
stirring  news  of  the  Confederates  reached  them? 

A.  Owen  Roe  O'Neill,  who  had  distinguished  himself 
in  the  Spanish  armies,  gave  up  his  command,  and  came 
to  the  aid  of  his  countrymen.  Preston,  too,  of  the 
house  of  Gormanstown,  who  had  gained  distinction  on 
the  Continent,  came  to  the  front. 

Q.  Was  the  Holy  See  interested  in  the  struggle  in 
which  the  Irish  Confederates  were  engaged  during  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.? 

A.  Yes,  very  much;  Urban  VIII.,  at  the  tomb  of  the 
Apostles,  invoked  blessings  on  the  arms  of  his  devoted 
Irish  children. 

Q.  Whom  did  Pope  Innocent  X.  send  to  Ireland  In 
1645  to  aid  the  Confederates  by  his  counsel? 

A.    Rinuccini,  Archbishop  of  Fermo. 

Q.  What  celebrated  victory  marks  the  wars  of  the 
Irish  Confederates? 

A.  The  battle  of  Benburb,  gained  by  Owen  Roe 
O'Neill  over  the  Scotch,  headed  by  Munro  (1646). 

Q.    How  long  did  the  Irish  Confederate  wars  last? 

A.    Seven  years. 

Who  acted  for  Charles  I.  during  the  Irish  Confederate 
wars? 

A.    James  Butler,  first  Duke  of  Ormond. 
Q.    How  were  the  Irish  Confederate  wars  brought 
to  a  close? 


23 


A.  Ormond  concluded  a  treaty  with  the  Confederatei 
in  1649.    Charles  was  beheaded  the  same  year. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Cromwell. 

Q.  After  the  execution  of  Charles  I.,  against  whom 
had  the  Irish  to  contend? 

A.    Against  Cromwell,  who  landed  In  Ireland  in  1649. 

Q.  What  place  did  Cromwell  first  attack  on  coming 
to  Ireland? 

A.  Drogheda,  which,  after  a  brave  defense,  fell  into 
his  hands. 

Q.  How  did  Cromwell  treat  the  garrison  of  Drog- 
heda? 

A.  Though  he  had  promised  quarter,  the  soldiers 
were  inhumanly  massacred,  except  thirty,  who  were 
sent  as  slaves  to  Barbadoes.  Of  the  townspeople,  every 
man,  woman  and  child  of  Irish  birth  was  brutally 
murdered. 

Q.    What  was  the  fate  of  Wexford? 

A.  Wexford  fell  after  a  brave  resistance,  and  Crom- 
well re-enacted  the  barbarous  massacre  of  Drogheda. 

Q.  What  effect  had  Cromwell's  savage  policy  on 
the  Irish? 

A.  The  entire  country  became  terrified,  and  nearly 
all  the  fortified  towns  surrendered. 

Q.  Whither  did  Cromwell  direct  his  steps  after  the 
taking  of  Wexford? 

A.  To  Ross,  which  surrendered;  then  to  Waterord, 
the  siege  of  which  he  was  obliged  to  raise  on  account  of 
the  forces  of  Ormond. 

Q.  What  important  places  fell  into  Cromwell's  hands 
after  the  taking  of  Ross?  • 

A.  Kilkenny,  in  1650,  after  a  brave  resistance;  and 
lastly,  Clonmel,  after  a  two  months'  siege. 

Q.  When  were  the  Cromwellian  wars  brought  to  a 
close  in  Ireland? 

A.    In  1653. 

Q.  How  did  Cromwell  act  on  the  conclusion  of  the 
war  in  Ireland? 


24 


A.  He  appointed  commissioners  to  seize  on  the  lands 
of  the  Irish  who  had  taken  up  arms  for  the  king. 

Q.  How  were  the  Catholic  owners  of  the  soil  in 
Ireland  treated  by  Cromwell  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  war? 

A.  He  ordered  them  Into  Connaught,  forbidding 
them  under  pain  of  death  to  re-cross  the  Shannon. 

Q.  Who  came  to  the  throne  of  England  after  the 
death  of  Cromwell,  in  1658? 

A.    Charles  II.  (1660). 

Q.  Did  Charles  II.  restore  the  property  of  the  Irish 
who  had  sacrificed  all  for  him? 

A.  On  the  contrary;  he  confirmed  Cromwell's  fol- 
lowers in  the  lands  they  had  seized,  and  fixed  Protestant 
Bishops  in  the  sees  of  the  Catholic  Bishops. 

Q.    What  great  crime  marks  the  reign  of  Charles  II.? 

A.  The  martyrdom  of  Oliver  Plunkett,  Archbishop  of 
Armagh  (1681).  After  a  mock  trial  in  London,  he  was 
hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  at  Tyburn. 

CHAPTER  XV. 
James  II.  and  William  III. 

Q.    By  whom  was  Charles  II.  succeeded? 
A.    By  his  brother,  James  II.  (1685). 
Q.    Who  was  James  II.'s  rival  for  tlie  crown? 
A.    William,  Prince  of  Orange. 

Q.  Where  did  the  forces  of  James  II.  and  of  William 
meet? 

A.  At  the  Boyne,  July  1st,  1690,  where  King  James 
was  completely  overthrown. 

Q.  How  did  William  III.  act  after  his  victory  of  the 
Boyne? 

A.  He  marched  to  Dublin,  and  began  to  give  instruc- 
tions about  forfeitures. 

Q.  What  effect  had  William  III.'s  attempt  at  confis- 
cation on  the  Irish? 

A.    It  made  them  continue  the  war. 

Q.  What  places  were  attacked  by  William  III.  after 
his  victory  at  the  Boyne? 


26 


A.  Athlone,  1690,  defended  by  Colonel  Grace;  and 
Limerick,  1690,  defended  by  the  illustrious  Sarsfield. 
In  both  places  William  had  to  raise  the  siege. 

Q.  Who  were  the  chief  commanders  on  each  side 
in  this  war? 

A.  Ginckle  commanded  for  King  William,  and  St. 
Ruth,  who  came  from  France  in  1691,  assumed  chief 
command  for  James. 

Q.    Where  did  Ginckle  and  St.  Ruth  meet  in  arms? 

A,  At  Athlone,  1691;  and  at  Aughrim  the  same 
year,  where  St.  Ruth  was  struck  down  by  a  cannon-ball, 
just  as  his  troops  were  exulting  in  the  hope  of  victory. 

Q.  What  followed  the  Irish  defeat  at  Aughrim  in 
1691? 

A.  The  city  of  Galway  had  to  yield,  and  Limerick, 
^after  a  brave  resistance,  fell  into  Ginckle's  hands  (1691). 

Q.    What  followed  the  fall  of  Limerick  in  16917 

A.    The  memorable  treaty,  Oct.  3rd,  1691. 

Q.  Tell  some  of  the  terms  of  the  ''Treaty  of  Lim- 
erick.*' 

A.  Amnesty  was  granted  to  those  who  had  taken  up 
arms;  Catholics  were  allowed  the  free  exercise  of  their 
religion;  and  the  troops,  who  had  so  bravely  defended 
Limerick,  were  allowed  to  march  out  with  all  the  honors 
of  war,  the  English  Government  supplying  them  with 
shipping  to  France  or  elsewhere. 

Q.  Did  many  of  the  Irish  troops  embark  for  France 
after  the  Treaty  of  Limerick? 

A.  More  than  12,000;  and  these  voluntary  exiles 
formed  the  Irish  Brigade  so  renowned  in  after  times  for 
valor  and  fidelity. 

Q.    Was  the  Treaty  of  Limerick  faithfully  observed? 

A.  No;  in  two  months  after  it  was  signed,  some  of 
its  leading  articles  were  grossly  violated  by  the  English. 

Q.    How  is  Limerick  styled  in  history? 

A.    "The  City  of  the  Violated  Treaty." 

Q.  What  rendered  William  III.  so  unpopular  is 
Ireland? 

A.  The  penal  laws  of  his  reign,  the  confiscation  of 
the  estates  of  the  Irish,  the  suppression  of  the  woolen 
trade,  and,  lastly,  the  violation  of  the  Treaty  of  Limerick. 


26 


Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  battlefields  on  which  the  Irish 
Brigade  distinguished  itself. 

A.  The  siege  of  Namur,  1692;  Landen,  1693,  where 
Sarsfield  lost  his  life;  Blenheim,  1704;  siege  of  Barce- 
lona;   and  Fontenoy,  1745. 

Q.  On  hearing  of  the  English  defeat  at  Fontenoy, 
what  memorable  imprecation  did  George  II.  utter  against 
the  Penal  Code? 

A.  "Cursed  be  the  laws  that  have  deprived  me  of 
such  subjects."  . 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Queen  Anne  and  the  Georges. 

Q.  Did  the  known  partiality  of  the  Catholics  of 
Ireland  for  the  Stuarts  secure  them  the  favor  of  Queen 
Anne? 

A.  No;  her  reign  (1702-1714)  was  one  series  of 
cruel  enactments. 

Q.  How  did  Ormond  (grandson  of  the  old  Duke) 
enforce  the  penal  enactments  in  Anne's  reign? 

A.    So  well  as  to  elicit  the  thanks  of  Parliament. 

Q.    By  whom  was  Queen  Anne  succeeded? 

A.    By  George  I.  (1714). 

Q.  What  prevented  James  Stuart,  the  old  Pretender, 
and  brother  to  Queen  Anne,  from  coming  to  the  throne? 

A.  His  refusal  to  renounce  the  Catholic  faith  and 
embrace  Protestantism. 

Q.  What  induced  the  Government,  during  the  reign 
of  George  II.,  to  relax  the  Penal  Code? 

A.  The  landing  in  Scotland  (1745)  of  the  young 
Pretender,  Charles  Edward,  grandson  of  James  II. 

Q.  Under  what  circumstances  was  permission  given, 
during  the  reign  of  George  II.,  to  have  the  Catholic 
churches  of  Dublin  opened  for  public  worship? 

A.  A  number  of  persons  having  assembled  by  stealth 
in  an  upper  room  of  a  house  in  Dublin,  for  the  purpose 
of  hearing  Mass,  the  floor  gave  way,  and  ten  persons 
were  killed.  Including  the  priest. 

Q.  What  event  in  Ireland  marked  the  early  years 
of  the  reign  of  George  III.  (1760-1820)? 

A.    Insurrection  of  the  peasantry  in  the  South. 


27 


Q.  What  noble-hearted  priest  was  condemned  to 
death  during  the  reign  of  George  III.,  on  the  testimony 
of  a  perjured  informer,  and  on  the  verdict  of  a  packed 
jury? 

A.    Father  Sheehy,  P.  P.,  of  Clogheen. 

Q.    What  was  the  origin  of  the  Irish  Volunteers? 

A.  An  invasion  by  the  French  being  dreaded  (1779), 
the  people  of  the  North  asked  for  a  protecting  force, 
which  the  government  was  unable  to  grant;  the  people 
then  armed  In  their  own  defense. 

Q.  Who  was  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  tht 
Irish  Volunteers? 

A.    The  Earl  of  Charlemont. 

Q.  Give  the  date  of  the  meeting  of  the  Volunteers  al 
Dungannon. 

A.    February,  1782. 

Q.  What  was  the  most  important  resolution  passed 
by  the  Volunteers? 

A.  They  resolved:  "That  a  claim  of  any  body  of 
men,  other  than  the  King,  Lords,  and  Commons  of  Ire- 
land, to  make  laws  to  bind  this  kingdom,  is  unconstitu- 
tional, illegal,  and  a  grievance." 

Q.  What  followed  the  meeting  of  the  Volunteers  at 
Dungannon? 

A.  The  legislative  independence  of  the  country 
(1782). 

Q.  To  whom  was  the  country  indebted  for  the  Ad 
of  Legislative  Independence  in  1782? 

A.  To  one  of  the  purest  of  patriots — the  immortal 
Grattan.  • 

Q.  What  led  to  the  dissolution  of  .  the  Irish  Volun 
teers  ? 

A.    Dissensions  among  their  leaders. 

Q.  How  did  the  Government  act  on  the  dissolution 
of  the  Volunteers? 

A.    Coercive  measures  were  once  again  employed. 

Q.  To  what  did  the  coercive  measures  of  the  reign 
of  George  III.  drive  the  Iriyh  people? 

A.    To  the  Insurrection  of  '98. 


28 


Q.  Who  were  the  principal  leaders  in  the  '98 
movement? 

A.    Lord  Edward  Fitzgerald  and  Wolfe  Tone. 

Q.    What  fate  befell  Lord  Edward  and  Wolfe  Tone? 

A.  Lord  Edward  died  in  prison  of  wounds  inflicted 
on  him  at  his  arrest;  Wolfe  Tone  died  in  prison  of 
self-inflicted  wounds. 

Q.  What  followed  close  on  the  suppression  of  the 
Insurrection  of  '98? 

A.  The  Act  of  Union  in  1800,  by  which  Ireland  was 
deprived  of  her  own  Parliament. 

Q.  What  means  did  the  Government  adopt  to  secure 
the  passing  of  the  Act  of  Union? 

A.    Bribery,  fraud,  and  intimidation. 

Q.    Was  much  opposition  offered  to  the  Union? 

A.  Yes;  Grattan  and  the  patriot  party  denounced 
it  in  speeches  of  rare  eloquence. 

Q.  Vv'hat  prophetic  words  did  Dr  Johnson  use  in 
referring  to  the  Union? 

A.  In  speaking  to  an  Irish  gentleman  before  the 
Union,  he  said:  *'Do  not  unite  with  us;  we  would  unite 
with  you  only  to  rob  you." 

Q.  Quote  the  remarkable  words  of  a  modern  his- 
torian. 

A.  He  says:  "The  Union  of  1800  was  not  only  a 
great  crime,  but  was  also,  like  most  crimes,  a  great 
blunder." 

Q.    When  did  Emmet's  insurrection  take  place? 
A.    In  1803. 

Q.    What  was  the  fate  or  Robert  Emmet? 
A.    He  was  made  prisoner  and  executed. 
Q.    Give  the  date  of  Catholic  Emancipation. 
A.  1829. 

Q.  To  whose  exertions  is  the  country  indebted  for 
Emancipation? 

A.  To  the  exertions  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  whose 
name  will  be  ever  dear,  not  only  to  Irishmen,  but  to 
every  foe  of  oppression,  and  to  every  friend  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty. 


29 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

William  IV.  and  Queen  Victoiia. 

Q.  To  what  other  great  work  did  O'Connell  devote 
his  life? 

A.  O'Connell  devoted  all  his  talents  and  energies  to 
secure  the  Repeal  of  the  Act  of  Union. 

Q.  What  association  did  he  set  on  foot  for  this 
purpose? 

A.    He  founded  the  Repeal  Association  in  1840;  and 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  became  Repealers. 
Q.    Were  his  efforts  successful? 

A.  No;  and  he  died  of  a  broken  heart  at  Genoa 
on  his  way  to  Rome  in  1847. 

Q.    What  was  his  dying  request? 

A.  That  his  heart  should  be  sent  to  Rome  and  his 
body  to  his  native  land. 

Q.    Who  was  known  as  the  "Apostle  of  Temperance?" 

A.  Father  Mathew,  a  Capuchin  friar,  whose  success 
in  the  cause  of  temperance  was  wonderful  (1838-56). 

Q.    When  did  the  "tithe  war"  commence? 

A.  In  1830,  when  the  Catholics  struck  against  the 
payment  of  tithes  to  the  Protestant  clergy. 

Q.  Name  the  principal  leaders  of  the  Young  Ireland 
party. 

A.  Thomas  Davis,  Smith  O'Brien,  John  Mitchel, 
Meagher,  M'Manus,  Dillon,  and  Duffy. 

Q.    What  was  the  fate  of  these  leaders? 

A.  Some  were  arrested  and  sent  into  penal  servi- 
tude, others  escaped  to  America. 

Q.    What  awful  calamity  befell  the  country  in  1845-47? 

A.  A  great  famine,  caused  by  the  failure  of  the 
potato  crop. 

Q.    What  were  the  effects  of  the  famine? 

A.  Nearly  a  million  of  the  people  died  of  hunger  and 
fever,  and  more  than  a  million  emigrated. 

Q.    Who  were  the  "Young  Irelanders"  of  '48? 

A.  A  party  of  Irishmen,  who,  seeing  the  misery  of 
their  country,  resolved  to  right  its  wrongs  by  force. 

Q.    When  was  the  "big  wind"  in  Ireland? 

A.    Date  most  generally  accepted  January  6,  1839. 


30 


Q.    What  was  the  Fenian  Brotherhood? 

A.  An  oath-bound  organization,  whose  object  was  to 
establish  an  Irish  Republic. 

Q.  What  attempts  at  insurrection  were  made  by  the 
Fenians? 

A.  The  American  Fenians  invaded  Canada  in  1866; 
and  there  was  a  partial  rising  in  Ireland  in  1867 — both 
attempts  were  unsuccessful. 

Q.    When  was  the  "Home  Rule  Association"  founded? 

A.  In  1870.  Its  aim  was  to  obtain  for  Ireland  a 
Parliament  of  its  own  to  manage  its  own  affairs. 

Q.  Who  was  the  most  remarkable  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Home  Rule  movement? 

A.  Charles  Stewart  Parnell,  who  was  born  at  Avon- 
dale,  County  Wicklow,  in  1846. 

Q.    When  did  Parnell  die? 

A.    Parnell's  death  occurred  on  October  6th,  1891. 
Q.    Name  another  of  the  great  Home  Rule  leaders. 
A.    John  E.  Redmond,  who  in  1900  was  chosen  leader 
of  the  United  Irish  Party. 

Q.    What  was  the  Land  League? 

A.  An  organization  founded  by  Michael  Davitt  Id 
1879. 

Q.    What  was  the  object  of  the  League? 

A.  To  stop  rack-rents  and  evictions,  and  to  enabl« 
the  Irish  farmer  to  live  and  thrive. 

Q.  What  important  association  was  established  In 
Ireland  in  1891? 

A.  The  Gaelic  League,  whose  aim  is  to  foster  and 
promote  the  study  of  the  Irish  language,  literature,  his- 
tory and  traditions. 

Q.  What  have  been  the  important  results  of  the 
organization  of  the  Gaelic  League? 

A.  It  has  stimulated  patriotic  Impulses  and  brought 
our  people  closer  together.  It  has  secured  for  Ireland 
a  national  university,  one  of  the  entrance  qualifications 
being  a  knowledge  of  the  Irish  language. 


31 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
King  Edward  Vli.  and  King  George  V. 

Q.    What  has  been  a  great  factor  in  improving  con- 
ditions in  Ireland  during  the  last  decade? 
A.    The  Land  Purchase  Act. 

Q.    How  does  the  Land  Puchase  Act  operate? 

A.  The  tenant  farmers  are  enabled  to  purchase  their 
farms,  at  a  most  reasonable  price,  and  borrow  money 
from  the  Government,  making  payments  in  yearly  in- 
stalments like  rent.  The  instalments  are  much  less 
than  the  rent  formerly  paid.  The  final  result  is  that 
the  farmers  own  the  land — a  great  stimulus  to  keeping 
them  in  Ireland  and  stopping  emigration  and  has  prac- 
tically wiped  out  the  great  curse  of  Ireland,  Landlordism. 

Q.  Can  you  tell  of  another  recent  reform  in  Ireland 
that  has  been  of  great  benefit? 

A.  Yes.  The  County  Council  Act,  which  is  a  step 
toward  self-government,  by  means  of  which  our  people 
are  given  charge  of  local  domestic  affairs.  Those  who 
have  seen  the  operations  of  this  measure  praise  it  for 
the  great  opportunities  it  offers  our  people  to  familiarize 
•    themselves  with  public  affairs. 

Q.  What  other  things  of  importance  have  been  done 
for  the  betterment  of  the  Irish  farmer? 

A.  The  establishment  of  co-operative  banks,  wherein 
the  farmers  can  obtain  loans  on  reasonable  terms  and 
share  in  the  profits  of  the  earnings  of  the  institution, 
of  co-operative  dairies,  the  introduction  of  thorough-bred 
animals  for  the  improvement  of  live  stock  and  poultry, 
and  also  the  erection  of  modern  cottages,  affording 
greater  comfort  and  health  to  farm  laborers  at  nominal 
renti. 

Q.  What  is  the  effect  of  the  act  giving  the  laborers 
new  and  cheap  cottages? 

A.  A  neat,  new  five-room  cottage,  with  sanitary  con- 
veniences and  an  acre  of  ground,  built  under  the  act, 
may  be  rented  for  a  shilling  a  week.  Such  cottages 
replace  the  miserable  cabins  of  the  poor,  making  the 


32 


face  of  the  country  brighter  and  the  laborers  more 
comfortable  and  socially  improving  them. 

Q.    What  benefits  have  been  conferred  upon  the  aged? 

A.  Under  the  Old  Age  Pension  Act  every  indigent 
person  of  the  age  of  70  years  becomes  entitled  to  a 
stipend  from  the  government,  which  enables  such  per- 
sons to  live  at  home,  or  with  friends,  in  moderate  and 
decent  comfort,  instead  of  being  thrust  into  almshouses 
and  practically  prisoners.  Many  thousands  of  such  pen- 
sioners are  now  drawing  these  pensions. 

Q.  How  does  the  new  National  University  benefit 
Ireland? 

A.  Prior  to  National  University,  Dublin  University 
(Trinity  College),  governed  and  managed  principally  for 
the  Anglican  Church  members,  was  the  one  great  uni- 
versity of  Ireland,  and  Catholic  youths  going  there 
were  in  danger  of  losing  their  Faith  through  the  anti- 
Catholic  spirit  and  traditions  of  the  institutions  and 
its  controllers.  Trinity  College  was  largely  pro-British 
in  its  sentiments  and  influence.  The  new  National 
University  gives  ample  opportunities  to  Catholics  as 
well  as  Protestants  and  is,  in  sentiments,  strongly  pro- 
Irish. 

Q.  How  have  these  acts  improving  Irish  conditions 
been  secured? 

A.  Through  the  unity  and  patriotism  of  an  Irish 
Nationalist  Parliamentary  Party,  which  for  years  has 
kept  84  out  of  103  Irish  members  a  unit  upon  all  ques- 
tions, and,  in  various  crises  in  British  politics,  has  made 
Ireland's  demands  the  foremost  question.  This  party 
has  finally  convinced  the  mass  of  the  British  people 
that  Home  Rule  should  be  granted. 

Q.    What  is  most  desired  in  Ireland? 

A.    National  Independence. 

Q.    Why  is  National  Independence  so  much  desired? 

A.  Because  in  spite  of  the  alleviations  referred  to  in 
preceding  questions.  Great  Britain  has  ruled  Ireland  in 
her  own  interests  and  not  for  the  welfare  of  the  Irish 
people.    Hence,  in  seventy -five  years,  Ireland's  popula- 


33 


tion  has  been  cut  in  two  and  her  people  denied  the 
opportunity  to  develop  their  national  resources. 

Q.  What  is  the  organization  working  for  Irish  inde- 
pendence called? 

A.    Sinn  Fein  (pronounced  Shin  Fain.) 

Q.    What  does  Sinn  Fein  mean? 

A.  Sinn  Fein  are  two  Irish  words  meaning  "Our- 
selves" intended  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  Irish  race 
must  depend  upon  its  own  members  to  achieve  the  free- 
dom of  Ireland. 

Q.  When  did  Sinn  Fein  become  a  concrete  organi- 
zation? 

A.  In  1915.  The  Irish  people  had  become  dissatisfied 
with  the  policy  and  methods  of  the  parliamentary  party, 
and  at  a  meeting  held  in  Dublin,  called  at  the  instigation 
of  Arthur  Griffiths,  the  Sinn  Fein  Party  was  established 

Q.  Is  Sinn  Fein  a  Socialistic  organization  and  is  the 
Irish  Republic  Socialistic? 

A.  No.  .  Sinn  Fein  is  not  a  Socialist  organization,  all 
suggestions  to  the  contrary  are  lies  of  English  propa- 
ganda. The  Irish  race  is  known  throughout  the  world  as 
the  staunchest  defender  of  freedom.  The  Irish  Republic 
is  a  democratic  Republic. 

Q.    Who  is  the  President  of  the  Irish  Republic? 

A.    Eamon  De  Valera. 

Q.    What  is  the  name  of  the  Irish  Legislature? 
A.    Dail  Eireann  (pronounced  Dawl  air-in.) 

THE  LAND  ACTS. 

In  1881  a  land  act  was  foreshadowed  by  Gladstone 
and  the  Coercion  Act  was  made  law. 

In  1885  the  first  Land  Purchase  Act  passed,  a  measure 
to  enable  Irish  tenant  farmers  to  buy  their  farms  from 
the  landowners.  The  government  placed  £5,000,000  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Irish  farmers,  so  they  could  borrow 
as  much  as  necessary  to  purchase  their  farms  immedi- 
ately. They  were  to  repay  the  government  by  install- 
ments spread  over  forty-nine  years,  when  they  would 
be  absolute  owners  of  the  soil. 

In  1888  the  second  Land  Purchase  Bill  passed,  by 


34 


which  a  second  £5,000,000  was  placed  at  the  disposal 
of -Irish  tenant  farmers  who  desired  to  buy  their  farms. 

In  1891  Balfour  obtained  another  advance  from  Par- 
liament of  £34,000,000  to  be  used  for  the  purchase  of 
farms  by  the  tenant  farmers. 

In  1902  George  Wyndham,  as  chief  secretary  of  Ire- 
land, introduced  a  Land  Purchase  Act,  "as  far  as  pos- 
sible, to  sweep  the  Irish  landlords  out  of  existence." 

In  1903  this  (Wyndham's  Land  Purchase)  Bill  passed 
and  became  law.  This  has  done  away  with  the  middle- 
men and  brought  on  the  era  of  improving  the  farms, 
naturally  neglected  under  the  old,  insecure  order  of 
things.  This  radical  bill  provides  a  sum  of  money  large 
enough  to  permit  every  peasant  farmer  to  buy  his  farm, 
so  that  the  soil  of  Ireland  is  once  more  rapidly  passing 
into  the  hands  of  the  Irish  people. 

NOTES. 

Fcis,  Aenach,  Oircchtas. — Names  to  signify  meetings  of 
kings,  chiefs,  and  people  in  ancient  Ireland  for 
business  affecting  tho  public  good.  Athletic  sports, 
horse-racing,  as  well  as  musical  and  literary  com- 
petitions, were  features  of  these  gatherings.  In 
modern  times,  meetings  and  competitions  of  the 
people. 

Brehon  Law. — The  code  of  laws  administered  in  olden 
times  in  Ireland  by  the  Brehons  or  judges. 

Eric. — The  fine  paid  on  account  of  murder  or  bodily 
hurt,  to  the  relatives  of  the  murdered  or  injured 
party. 

Lia  Fail. — A  large  stone  kept  at  Tara  on  which  the 

kings  of  Ireland  were  crowne(i 
Termon  lands. — Lands  attached  to  certain  convents  and 

monasteries,  within  which  lands,  life  and  property 

wei'e  secure. 

Tanist. — The  title  borne  by  the  elected  successor  during 
the  life  of  the  reigning  prince  or  chief. 

Rath. — A  circular  enclosure  formed  of  raised  earth, 
within  which  the  chief  and  some  of  his  officers 
resided. 


35 


Cromlech. — A  burial-place  formed  of  a  great  stone  rest- 
ing on  several  smaller  ones  placed  upright. 

Cairn. — A  large  heap  of  stones  placed  over  the  grave  of 
a  king  or  chief. 

Crannogues. — Dwellings  erected  on  artificial  islands  in 
shallow  lakes. 

Fosterage. — A  practice  by  which  parents  sent  their  chil- 
dren to  be  reared  in  the  families  of  some  members 
of  their  tribe. 

Gavelkind. — A  law  by  which  a  man's  landed  estate  was 
divided  equally  among  all  his  sons. 

Gossipred. — A  practice  by  which  chiefs  and  nobles  be- 
came Godfathers  to  the  children  of  their  vassals. 

Galloglass. — A  heavy-armed  foot-soldier. 

Kern. — A  light-armed  foot-soldier. 

Bard. — A  poet  and  musician. 

01  lave. — A  title  denoting  distinction  in  any  art  or 
science. 

Ogham  Characters. — Ancient  writing  by  means  of  short 
lines  and  points  placed  on  and  at  the  sides  of  a 
central  line. 

Round  Towers. — Structures  varying  from  60  to  150  feet 
in  height,  and  generally  found  in  connection  with 
churches.  They  are  of  Christian  origin,  and  were 
used  as  belfries  and  places  of  refuge. 

"Annals  of  the  Four  Masters,"  or  ''Annals  of  Donegal/' 
— A  compilation  of  the  chief  events  in  the  history 
•  of  Ireland,  made  between  the  years  1632  and  1636 
by  the  three  O'Clerys  and  O'Mulconry,  in  the  Fran- 
ciscan Monastery  of  Donegal. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Boucicault,  Dion. — Dramatist  and  actor,  was  born  in 

Dublin,  December  20th.  1822.    Died  in  New  York 

City,  September  18th,  1890. 
Curran,  John  Philpot. — Lawyer,  orator  and  patriot,  was 

born  at  Newmarket,  County  of  Cork.  July  24th,  1750. 

Died  in  London,  October  14th,  1817,  aged  67  years. 
Dwyer,  Michael. — Insurgent  leader  in  1798,  was  born  in 

1771.    He  died  in  1826. 


36 


Davitt,  Michael. — Journalist  and  patriot,  was  born  at 
Straide,  County  Mayo,  March  25th,  1847.  He  died 
May  30th,  1906,  and  in  accordance  to  his  wishes  was 
buried  in  his  native  town,  Straide. 

Emmet,  Robert — Irish  patriot,  born  in  Dublin,  March 
4th,  1778.  Executed  in  Thomas  Street,  Dublin, 
September  20th,  1803. 

Fitzgerald,  Lord  Edward. — Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
United  Irishmen,  died  in  Newgate,  June  4th,  1798, 
aged  34  years. 

Flood,  Henry. — Orator  and  statesman,  was  born  near 
Kilkenny  in  1732.  Died  December  2nd,  1791,  at 
Farmley,  near  Kilkenny. 

Grattan,  Henry — Statesman,  born  in  Dublin,  July  3rd, 
1746.  Died  in  the  early  summer  of  1820.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

Griffin,  Gerald — Poet  and  novelist,  was  born  in  Limerick, 
December  12th,  1803.  Died  at  the  North  Monastery, 
Cork,  June  12th,  1840. 

Goldsmith,  Oliver. — Poet  and  writer,  was  born  at  Pallas- 
more,  a  small  hamlet  in  County  Longford,  Novem- 
ber 10th,  1728.    Died  April  4th,  1774. 

Gladstone,  William  E. — Statesman,  orator  and  scholar, 
born  in  Liverpool,  England,  December  27th,  1809. 
Died  at  Hawarden  Castle,  May  19th,  1898. 

Kickham,  Charles  J. — Journalist  and  author,  was  born 
at  Mullinahone,  County  Tipperary,  1826.  He  died 
at  Blackrock,  near  Dublin,  August  21st,  1882. 

Lover,  Samuel. — Poet,  novelist  and  composer,  was  born 
in  Dublin,  February  24th,  1797.    Died  July  6th,  1868. 

Mathew,  Father  Theobald. — Apostle  of  Temperance, 
born  at  Thomastown,  County  Kilkenny,  on  the  10th 
of  October,  1790.  Died  December  8th,  1856.  Buried 
in  Cork. 

Murphy,  Father  John. — '98  Patriot  Insurgent  Leader, 
born  in  Tincurry,  County  of  Wexford;  was  executed 
on  June  26th,  1798. 

Meagher,  Thomas  Francis. — Irish  Nationalist  and  Briga- 
dier-General in  the  United  States  service,  was  born 


37 


in  Waterford,  August  3rd,  1823.  Accidentally 
drowned  off  a  steamer  in  the  Mississippi,  July  let, 
1867. 

Mitchell,  John. — Journalist,  born  in  Newry,  November 
3rd,  1815.    Died  at  Newry.  March  20th,  1875. 

Moore,  Thomas. — Poet,  born  at  12  Aungier  Street,  Dub- 
.lin,  May  28th,  1779.  Died  at  Sloperton,  February 
26th,  1852. 

Madden,  Richard  Robert. — Physician,  politician  and 
writer,  was  born  in  Dublin,  August  22nd,  1798. 
Died  near  Dublin,  February  5th,  1886. 

O'Connell,  Daniel. — Irish  Liberator,  born  at  Carhen, 
County  Kerry,  August  6th,  1775.  Died  at  Genoa, 
May  15th,  1847. 

Parnell,  Charles  Stewart. — Statesman,  born  at  Avondale, 
County  Wicklow,  June  24th,  1846.  Died  at  Brighton, 
October  6th,  1891. 

St.  Bn'gid. — Born  about  455  at  Faugher,  near  Dundalk. 
Died  at  Kildare,  about  525. 

Tone,  Theobald  Wolfe. — Irish  patriot,  born  in  Dublin 
on  the  20th  of  June,  1763.  Died  in  Dublin,  Novem- 
ber 19th,  1798. 


PART  II. 
Natural  History  of  Ireland 

Ireland,  one  of  the  most  considerable  islands  of 
Europe,  is  situated  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  west  of 
England,  and  extends  from  the  50th  to  the  55th  degree 
of  north  latitude,  and  from  the  eighth  to  the  twelfth 
degree  of  west  longitude.  Its  form  is  nearly  oval;  from 
Fair-head  in  the  north  to  Mizenhead  in  the  south,  its 
length  is  about  three  hundred  miles;  in  breadth  from 
east  to  west,  it  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  and 
about  1,400  miles  in  circumference;  it  contains  about 
eighteen  millions  of  acres,  English  measure.  The  distance 
of  Ireland  from  Great  Britain  varies  according  to  the  in- 
equality of  the  coasts  of  the  two  countries;  some  of  the 
northern  parts  are  but  fifteen  miles  from  Scotland;  how- 
ever, the  general  distance  from  England  is  forty-five 
miles,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  different  position 
of  the  coasts.  Ireland  is  two  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
distant  from  France,  four  hundred  and  forty  from  Spain, 
and  about  fourteen  hundred  and  forty  from  New  France 
in  America.  In  the  northern  parts,  the  longest  day  is 
seventeen  houi:s,  twelve  minutes,  and  in  the  most  sou- 
thern, sixteen  hours,  twenty-five  minutes.  From  its 
being  situated  in  one  of  the  temperate  zones  the  climate 
is  mild  and  agreeable.  ''Although  less  extended  than 
Britain,"  says  Orosius,  "Ireland  is,  from  the  temperature 
of  its  climate,  better  supplied  with  useful  resources." 
Isidore  says:  "It  is  smaller  than  Britain,  but  more 
fertile,  from  its  situation."  The  venerable  Bede  con- 
firms the  opinions  of  these  writers;  he  observes,  that 
"Ireland  greatly  surpasses  Britain  in  the  healthfulness 
and  serenity  of  its  air."  Cambrensis  adds,  that  "of  all 
climates  Ireland  is  the  most  temperate."  "Neither 
extraordinary  heat  in  summer  is  felt  there,  nor  exces- 
sive cold  in  winter.  That  country,"  he  adds,  "is  so 
blessed  in  these  particulars  that  it  seems  as  if  nature 
looked  upon  it  with  a  more  favorable  eye  than  on  any 
other." 


39 


The  testimony,  however,  of  CambrensiB  appeari 
Bomewhat  doubtful  and  exaggerated.  Rain,  snow  and 
frost  are  not  unfrequent  during  the  winters  in  Ireland; 
from  its  exposure  to  the  exhalations  of  an  immense 
ocean,  and  those  which  the  westerly  winds  from  Amer- 
ica bear  to  it,  and  which  are  not  interrupted  in  their 
course  by  any  other  land,  nor  opposed  by  the  contrary 
action  of  the  continental  winds,  it  must  naturally  be 
subject  to  such  vicissitudes  of  climate.  It  must  be 
observed,  that  the  English  writers  have  always  endeav- 
ored to  heighten  the  excellence  of  the  climate  of  Ire- 
land, and  fertility  of  its  soil,  not  forgetting  at  the  same 
time  to  lower  the  merit  of  the  inhabitants,  and  to  render 
them,  contemptible.  Cambrensis,  who  extols  so  much 
the  fertility  of  that  island,  represents  the  inhabitants 
as  a  people  without  morals,  comparing  them  to  undiB- 
ciplined  savages,  that  will  not  submit  to  be  governed 
by  laws.  Camden,  another  English  author,  says,  that 
"if  that  country  had  sometimes  a  bad  character.  It 
arose  from  the  rudeness  of  its  inhabitants."  We  shall 
not  at  present  reply  to  the  invectives  of  these  writers; 
we  will  have  an  opportunity  of  doing  it  in  another  place. 
If  ferocity  and  rudeness  go  generally  hand  in  hand,  does 
It  become  the  English  to  disparage  their  neighbors  with 
such  epithets  of  abuse? 

The  moisture  of  the  Irish  climate,  together  with  the 
great  number  of  lakes  and  bogs  that  are  to  be  found 
throughout  that  country,  caused  by  the  stagnation  of 
the  waters  after  the  tillage  and  culture  of  its  lands 
had  been  interrupted,  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries 
by  the  frequent  invasion  of  the  northern  barbarians, 
must,  it  would  appear,  renrler  that  country  unwhole- 
some, and  be  the  cause  of  rheumatism,  dysentery,  and 
other  distempers;  they  are  only  strangers,  however, 
that  are  subject  to  be  attacked  by  these  disorders,  the 
natives  generally  escape  and  live  to  an  advanced  age. 
Men  have  often  been  discovered  to  have  lived  to  a 
great  age  in  that  country,  whom  sickness  had  seldom 
visited  before  death.  "The  climate  of  that  country," 
says  CambtenBis,  "is  so  temperate  that  neither  infeo- 


40 


tious  fogs  nor  pestilential  winds  are  felt,  so  that  the 
aid  of  doctors  is  seldom  looked  for,  and  sickness  rarely 
appears,  except  among  the  dying." 

Ireland  is  intersected  by  a  great  number  of  rivers 
and  lakes.  In  the  Province  of  Leinster  we  find  the 
Barrow,  which  takes  its  rise  in  the  mountains  called 
Slieve-Bloemy,  in  the  Queen's  county,  formerly  Leix;  it 
runs  through  part  of  the  Counties  of  Kildare  and  Car- 
low,  and  empties  itself  into  the  sea  at  Waterford,  with 
the  Nore  and  the  Suire. 

The  Nore  has  its  rise  in  the  Queen's  County,  waters 
that  of  Kilkenny,  and  there  loses  itself  in  the  Barrow, 
some  miles  above  Ross. 

The  Boyne,  which  rises  in  the  King's  County,  runs 
through  Castlejordon,  Ballybogan,  Clonard,  Trim,  and 
Navan,  in  East  Meath;  its  waters  are  increased  by 
many  other  small  rivers,  and  it  falls  into  the  sea  at 
Drogheda. 

The  Liffey  has  its  rise  in  the  County  of  Wicklow 
and  makes  a  circuitous  course  through  the  County  of 
Kildare,  where  many  small  rivers  unite  their  streams 
with  it.  At  Leixlip,  within  seven  miles  of  Dublin,  a 
very  high  cascade  is  formed,  where  the  waters  tumble 
from  the  top  of  a  sharp  rock;  in  the  language  of  the 
country  it  is  called  "Leimen-Uradane,"  in  English,  "The 
Salmon's  Leap."  The  country  people  say  that  when 
the  salmon  strives  to  reascend  the  river  in  that  place, 
it  leaps,  holding  its  tail  between  its  teeth,  in  order  to 
pass  the  rock;  but  if  it  fails  in  the  attempt,  which  fre- 
quently happens  from  the  height  of  the  rock  and 
rapidity  of  the  water,  it  is  caught  in  baskets,  which  the 
fishermen  are  careful  to  place  at  the  bottom  to  take 
them.  The  Liffey  passes  through  Lucan  and  Palmers- 
town,  and,  after  forming  smaller  cascades  in  its  course, 
empties  itself  in  the  sea  at  Dublin. 

The  Slaney  takes  its  rise  in  the  County  of  Wicklow, 
and,  after  running  through  Baltingglass  and  Ennis- 
corthy,  falls  into  the  sea  at  Wexford. 

Lastly,  the  Iny  and  the  Brosnagh,  the  first  of  which 
rises  in  Lake  Ennil,  the  latter  in  the  King's  County, 


41 


lose  themselves  in  the  Shannon,  one  in  the  lake  called 
Lough  Lee,  the  other  near  Banagher. 

The  chief  rivers  of  Ultser  are:  The  Bann,  which 
rises  in  the  County  of  Down,  and  together  with  the 
River  Tonwagee,  runs  through  the  great  lake  called 
Lough  Neagh;  having  then  the  County  of  Antrim  to 
the  right,  and  Derry  on  the  left,  it  forms  in  its  course 
a  more  considerable  cataract  than  the  Liffey  at  Leixlip; 
it  passes  then  through  Coleraine,  and  falls  into  the 
ocean.  This  river  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best 
in  Europe  for  its  fishery  of  salmon,  eel  and  other  fish. 

The  Morne  flows  from  the  County  of  Tyrone,  and 
being  joined  by  the  Derg  and  the  Finn,  which  have  their 
sources  from  two  lakes  of  the  same  name  in  the  County 
of  Donegal;  they  run  in  the  same  channel,  and,  after 
crossing  Stabane  and  Derry,  fall  into  Lough  Foyle,  and 
from  thence  into  the  ocean. 

The  Earn,  the  source  of  which  is  on  the  borders  of 
the  Counties  of  Longford  and  Cavan,  crosses  the  latter 
and  falls  into  a  lake  of  the  same  name  in  the  County  of 
Fermanagh,  and  from  thence  passes,  by  Ballyshannon, 
into  the  ocean. 

The  Swilly,  in  the  County  Donegal,  falls  into  a  lake 
of  the  same  name,  which  communicates  with  the  ocean. 

The  River  Laggan,  in  the  County  Down,  passes 
through  Dromore,  Lisburn,  and  Belfast,  and  falls  into 
CarrickferguB  Bay. 

The  Newry,  after  having  served  for  limits  to  the 
Counties  of  Armagh  and  Down,  falls  into  the  sea  at 
Carlingford. 

The  Shannon,  which  can  by  a  fair  title  be  termed  a 
river,  is  the  chief  one  not  only  of  Connaught,  but  of  all 
Ireland,  and  deserves  to  be  classed  among  the  first 
rivers  of  Europe.  It  is  called  Senna  by  Orosius,  and 
has  its  source  in  a  mountain  of  the  County  of  Leitrim, 
called  Sliew-Nierin,  which  is  so  named  from  the  mines 
of  iron  that  are  found  in  it.  Its  course  from  where  it 
rises  to  its  mouth  is  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles;  many  other  rivers  fall  into  it,  and  it  forms 
several   very   considerable   lakes.     It   waters  Lanes- 


42 


borough,  Athlone,  and  Banagher,  separating  West  Meath 
and  Ijeinster  from  Connaught.  From  Banagher  it  flows 
to  Limerick,  from  whence  it  bears  ships  of  the  greatest 
burden  into  the  Western  Ocean,  a  distance  of  about 
fifty  miles. 

The  other  rivers  of  Connaught  are  not  considerable. 
The  Moy,  in  the  County  of  Mayo,  falls  into  the  ocean 
at  Killala,  having  Tirfiacria,  in  the  County  of  Sligo,  on 
its  right  bank,  and  Tiramalgad,  in  the  County  Mayo, 
upon  the  left.  The  Suck  runs  between  the  Counties  of 
Roscommon  and  Galway,  and  loses  itself  in  the  Shan- 
non near  Clonfer.  The  Gill,  a  little  river  in  the  County 
Galway,  discharges  itself  into  the  Bay  of  Galway. 

The  rivers  in  the  Province  of  Munster  are  the  Suir, 
which,  taking  its  rise  in  the  County  of  Tipperary,  on 
the  borders  of  Ossary,  passes  through  Thurles,  Cashel, 
Clonmel,  Carrick  and  Waterford,  and  from  thence  flows 
with  the  Barrow  into  the  sea. 

Avoine  Duff  or  Avoine  More,  in  English  "Black 
water,"  has  its  source  in  the  County  of  Kerry,  and, 
after  watering  Mallow  and  Lismore,  falls  into  the  sea 
at  Youghal. 

The  Rivers  Lee  and  Bandon,  in  the  County  of  Cork, 
discharge  themselves  into,  the  sea,  one  below  Cork,  the 
other  at  Kinsale. 

The  Leane  and  the  Cashon,  in  the  County  of  Kerry, 
empty  themselves  into  the  ocean,  the  first  in  the  Bay 
of  Dingle,  the  other  at  the  mouth  of  the  Shannon. 

The  most  considerable  lakes  of  Ireland  are  the  fol- 
lowing: Lough  Neagh  (lough  signifies  lake).  It  is 
thirty  miles  long  and  fifteen  broad;  its  waters  are  cele- 
btated  for  the  quality  they  possess  of  changing  wood 
into  iron  and  stone.  Lough  Foile  and  Lough  Earne, 
these  being  joined  by  a  canal,  from  two  lakes,  Lough 
Swilly  and  Lough  Cone,  at  present  Stranford,  in  the 
Province  of  Ulster.  There  are  also  some  other  lakes 
less  considerable  in  this  Province,  viz.:  Lough  Finn, 
Lough  Sillin,  Lough  Ramor,  Lough  Reagh,  Lough  Eask, 
and  Lough  Dearg;  the  last  is  famed  for  the  devotion 
of  the  faithful  who  resort  there  to  perform  a  pilgrimage. 


43 


The  most  considerable  lakes  of  Connaught  are: 
Lough  Corrib,  Lough  Mask,  Lough  Conn,  Lough  Ree, 
Lough  Boflan,  and  Lough  Allen,  in  the  Shannon;  Lough 
Gara,  Lough  Aarow  and  Lough  Rea. 

The  lakes  to  be  met  with  in  Munster  are  called 
Lough  Ogram,  Lough  Oulan,  Lough  Kerry,  Lough  Lene 
and  Lough  Derg. 

There  are  in  West  Meath  Lough  Ennil,  Lough  Hoyle, 
Lough  Derrevarragh,  etc. 

In  Ireland  we  meet,  likewise,  with  mountains,  prom- 
ontories and  capes.  The  highest  mountains,  generally 
called  the  Curley  Hills,  are  in  the  County  of  Wicklow; 
those  in  the  Queen's  County  are  Slieve  Bloema,  and  in 
the  County  of  Mayo,  the  Mountains  of  Cruachan. 

There  are  many  bogs  in  that  country,  where  the 
people  cut  turf  with  narrow  spades  for  fuel;  it  abounds 
with  all  kinds  of  grain — wheat,  rye,  barley,  oats,  peas, 
etc.;  everything  grows  there  in  abundance.  Its  pastures 
are  considered  the  best  in  Europe  both  for  the  quality 
and  quantity  of  their  grass,  which  caused  Bede  to  say, 
that  it  was  "an  island  rich  in  milk  and  honey."  It 
appears,  too,  that  in  his  time  the  vine  was  cultivated 
there. 

Fruit  trees  thrive  well  in  Ireland,  such  as  pear,  apple, 
peach,  apricot,  cherry,  plum,  gooseberry  and  nut  trees. 
It  is  true,  they  are  not  met  with  in  the  fields  and  on 
the  roads,  as  in  France,  Flanders,  and  other  countries, 
geing  generally  planted  within  enclosures,  and  in 
gardens. 

Ireland  is  rich  in  her  herds  of  oxen,  and  flocks  of 
sheep,  goats  and  swine;  it  is  said  that  the  cows  will 
not  give  their  milk  without  the  calves,  and  that  to 
succeed  in  getting  it,  it  is  necessary  to  deceive  them 
by  showing  a  skin  filled  with  hay  or  straw.  The  sheep 
are  shorn  twice  a  year.  They  yield  a  great  quantity 
of  wool,  but  it  is  not  so  good  nor  so  fine  as  in  other 
countries.  The  horses,  called  hobbies  by  the  English, 
which  were  first  brought  from  the  Asturias,  are  bred 
in  Ireland;  they  are  excellent  both  for  the  saddle  and 
the  draught.   Their  saddle  horses  have  a  certain  gentle 


44 


and  regular  movement,  called  "amble,"  but  are  very 
quick  at  the  same  time.  The  rider  might,  while  seated 
upon  his  horse,  when  walking,  bear  a  full  glass  of 
liquor  in  his  hand  without  spilling  it. 

Paulus  Jovius,  according  to  the  account  given  by 
Ware,  saw  twelve  Irish  hobbies,  of  a  dazzling  whiteness, 
caparisoned  In  purple,  with  silver  bridles  and  reins; 
they  were  led  in  parade  with  the  trains  attendant  upon 
the  Sovereign  Pontiffs. 

Eagles,  falcons  and  other  birds  of  prey  are  likewise 
in  Ireland;  greyhounds  and  other  hunting  dogs  are 
there  in  common.  Bees  are  so  plenty  that  swarms  are 
found  even  in  the  trunks  of  trees. 

The  woods,  with  which  that  country  was  formerly 
covered,  fed  great  numbers  of  fallow-deer;  there  are 
stags,  boars,  foxes,  badgers,  otters.  Wolves  were  like- 
wise in  Ireland,  but  have  been  entirely  destroyed  within 
the  last  century. 

The  plains  and  bogs  of  Ireland  are  full  of  all  kinds 
of  game;  hares,  rabbits,  pheasants,  partridges,  wood- 
cocks, snipes,  plovers,  quails,  water-hens,  ducks  and 
wild  geese  are  in  abundance  as  well  as  every  other 
species  of  fowl.  There  is  a  particular  wild  bird  in 
Ireland  that  resembles  the  pheasant;  it  is  called  in  the 
Irish  language  "Keark-Frlhy."  Some  think  that  it  is 
the  same  as  the  heather-cock;  there  is,  indeed,  an 
analogy  from  the  name,  as  Keark-Frihy  signifies  heath- 
hen;  however  that  be,  this  bird  is  not  known,  or  at 
least  very  rare  in  France.  Marshal  Saxe  had  some 
brought  from  Ireland  to  stock  the  plains  of  Chambord; 
he  sent  also  to  that  country  for  horses  and  mares  and 
had  them  brought  to  supply  his  stud.  The  rivers  and 
lakes  of  this  country  are  filled  with  fish  of  all  kinds; 
salmon,  trout,  pike,  tench,  perch,  eel,  carp  and  shad 
are  very  common,  without  mentioning  the  sea-fish, 
which  are  taken  in  great  quantities. 

If  we  search  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  treasures 
will  be  found  in  Ireland.  According  to  the  historians 
of  the  country,  the  first  gold  mine  was  discovered  near 
the  River  Liffey,  In  the  time  of  Tighernmas,  the  mon- 


45 


arcb ;  afterwards  one  of  silver  was  found  at  Airgiodross, 
and  a  foundry  was  established  on  the  borders  of  the 
River  Barrow,  in  which  coats  of  mail,  bucklers  and 
other  armor  were  made,  and  given  by  the  Kings  to 
such  warlike  men  as  distinguished  themselves  in  battle. 
A  mint  was  also  founded  for  manufacturing  gold  chains, 
which  the  Kings  and  other  nobles  wore  upon  their 
necks  as  marks  of  distinction;  rings,  likewise,  which 
were  presented  to  those  who  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  arts  and  sciences. 

Thus  it  can  be  said  that  gold  and  silver  were  in 
general  use  in  Ireland,  even  in  the  most  remote  ages 
of  paganism.  This  abundance  of  wealth  was  increased 
in  the  early  periods  of  Christianity  by  the  riches  the 
inhabitants  gained  from  the  frequent  voyages  they  made 
into  Britain  and  other  countries.  The  immense  treas- 
ures that  the  Normans  plundered  from  the .  churches 
and  monasteries  of  this  country,  as  well  as  the  annual 
tribute  of  an  ounce  of  gold,  called  "airgiodt'roin," 
exacted  from  the  natives  by  the  barbarians,  during 
their  dominion  over  them,  furnish  incontestable  proofs 
of  its  wealth  at  that  time. 

We  know,  that  in  the  time  of  Denis,  Christian  and 
Gregory,  who  were  abbots  successively  in  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Benedict,  established  at  Regensburgh  (called  also 
Ratisbon),  for  the  Scoto-Milesians  (which  was  the  old 
name  of  the  Irish),  the  Kings  and  Princes  of  Ireland, 
particularly  Conchovar  O'Brien,  King  of  Munster,  had 
sent  by  three  remittances,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
twelfth  century,  considerable  sums  of  gold  and  silver, 
to  rebuild  their  houses,  then  falling  into  ruins.  After 
the  abbey  had  been  entirely  rebuilt,  and  property  pur- 
chased in  the  city  and  neighborhood  for  the  support 
of  the  monks,  there  was  a  sum  still  remaining.  I  shall 
not  speak  of  the  rich  presents  from  the  same  King  of 
Munster  to  the  Emperor  Lothaire  II.,  to  assist  in  the 
holy  wars.  Cambrensis  himself  bears  testimony  to  the 
wealth  of  that  Island,  in  the  age  which  succeeded  the 
devastations  of  the  Normans:  (Aurum  quoque  quo  abun- 
dant insula).     Mines  of  quicksilver,  tin,  lead,  copper, 


46 


alum,  vitriol,  sulphur,  antimony  and  iron  are  discovered 
there  in  great  quantities;  this  last  metal  is  manufac- 
tured in  the  country  and  found  to  be  not  inferior  in 
quality  to  that  of  Spain.  However,  the  English  govern- 
ment, having  made  it  a  part  of  her  policy  to  keep  the 
Irish  in  subjection  and  dependence,  have  been  always 
opposed  to  the  increase  of  their  wealth  and  the  working 
of  their  mines.  Quarries  of  stone,  resembling  a  hard 
free-stone,  are  also  found,  besides  coal  mines,  alabaster 
and  marble  of  several  kinds,  such  as  red,  black,  striped 
and  some  mixed  with  white;  there  is  another,  likewise, 
of  grayish  color,  which  becomes  azure  when  polished; 
the  houses  in  Kilkenny  are  built  with  this  last  kind, 
and  the  streets  paved  with  it. 

The  produce  and  growth  of  the  island,  and  those 
articles  which  form  its  chief  trade  and  export,  are  oxen, 
sheep,  swine,  leather,  tallow,  butter,  cheese,  salt,  honey, 
wax,  furs,  hemp,  wool,  linen-cloths,  stuffs,  fish,  wild- 
fowl, lead,  tin,  copper  and  iron.  Ireland  produces 
everything  necessary  and  useful  and  could  do  well  with- 
out the  aid  of  intercourse  of  any  other  country. 

Its  situation  for  trade  with  other  nations  is  peculiar- 
ly favorable;  her  harbors  are  more  numerous  and  more 
convenient  than  those  of  England.  They  were  formerly 
frequented  by  the  Phoenicians,  the  Greeks  and  the 
Gauls.  "Ireland,"  says  Camden,  "is  to  be  admired  both 
for  its  fertility  and  the  advantageous  situation  of  iti 
seaports."  Still  the  commerce  of  that  country  is  incon- 
siderable, owing  to  the  restrictions  and  narrow  limits 
imposed  upon  it  by  a  neighboring  nation,  which  has 
tyrannized  over  it  for  some  centuries  and  prevents  its 
wealth  to  prosper  and  increase. 

In  that  happy  country,  the  works  of  nature  which 
are  seen  excite  our  wonder;  few  examples  of  the  same 
kind  are  in  any  other  country  of  Europe.  By  a  peculiar 
blessing  to  Ireland,  its  land  is  entirely  exempt  from 
all  venomous  reptiles;  some  serpents,  adders,  lizards 
and  spiders  are  indeed  to  be  seen  there,  as  in  other 
places,  but  by  a  strange  singularity,  they  have  not  the 
poisonous  quality  inseparable  from  their  nature  in  other 


47 


countries,  except  in  the  Island  of  Crete.  "When  they 
are  brought  from  other  places,"  says  Bede,  "they  die 
when  approaching  that  sacred  land  'Nullus  ibi  serpens 
vlvere  valeat.' "  "Neither  serpents  nor  any  venomous 
things,"  says  Camden,  "are  to  be  met  with."  This 
happy  exemption  from  poisonous  insects  is  again  ex- 
pressed in  some  verses  of  Adrianus  Junius  wherein  the 
island  is  introduced  as  speaking  of  its  own  advantages. 

The  wonders  of  two  celebrated  lakes  in  Ireland, 
Lough  Neagh  and  Lough  Lene,  are  well  known  to  the 
learned  by  the  different  dissertations  published  upon 
them;  among  others,  the  philosophical  lectures  of 
Richard  Barton,  printed  at  Dublin  in  1751. 

Lough  Neagh,  situated  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  is 
bordered  on  the  northeast  by  the  County  of  Antrim, 
by  Tyrone  upon  the  west,  and  Armagh  upon  the  south; 
is  thirty  miles  long  and  fifteen  broad;  its  waters 
possess  a  petrifying  quality,  which  changes  wood  into 
iron  or  stone.  Nennius,  an  English  author,  makes  men- 
tion of  it,  and  it  has  been  celebrated  in  some  beautiful 
lines  by  the  author  of  the  Ogygia.  "Every  thing  which 
is  thrown  into  a  certain  lake  in  Ireland,"  says  ToUius, 
"is  changed  into  iron  or  stone,  if  it  falls  to  the  bottom." 

M.  de  Buffon  mentions  that  "a  lake  is  said  to  be  in 
Iceland  which  petrifies."  "The  Lake  Neaghe  in  Ire- 
land," continues  he,  "possesses  the  same  quality;  but 
these  petrifications  caused  by  the  waters  of  the  lakes 
are  certainly  nothing  more  than  incrustations,  such  as 
the  waters  of  Arcuel  produce."  Experience  does  not 
accord  with  the  opinion  of  that  celebrated  naturalist 
Incrustation  is  caused  by  concretion,  and  the  applica- 
tion of  a  strange  body  on  the  surface  of  another,  with- 
out altering  its  substance.  In  the  petrification  attributed 
to  Lough  Neagh,  the  changing  of  a  piece  of  wood  into 
stone  is  effected  by  the  total  change  of  the  inner  part, 
and  in  that  the  difference  of  bodies  consists,  as  the 
matter  is  alike  in  all.  Pieces  of  wood,  after  having 
laid  a  certain  time  in  that  lake,  are  taken  out  either 
partly  or  entirely  petrified;  some  possess  the  properties 
of  the  stone,  its  heaviness,  hardness  and  solid  cohesion 


48 


of  the  parts,  which  make  their  separation  difficult; 
while  another  retains  the  quality  of  wood,  which  is  that 
of  being  fibrous  and  combustible. 

There  are  two  sorts  of  petrified  wood;  one  is  white; 
it  appears  on  the  outside  to  be  wood,  but  is  in  reality 
a  stone  without  any  mixture.  This  kind  being  porous 
is  incomparably  lighter  than  the  common  stone;  it  is 
susceptible  of  being  cut,  and  is  useful  for  whetting 
edged  tools.  The  other,  being  less  porous,  is  black, 
harder  and  more  weighty;  a  mixture  in  it  is  sometimes 
discovered,  either  on  the  surface  or  in  the  interior  of 
the  stone.  The  two  kinds  are  alike  in  this,  that  they 
split  like  wood,  and  strike  fire  like  flint  stone  and  resist 
the  strongest  fire  without  being  calcined  or  vitrified. 
It  has  been  likewise  remarked  that  the  second  sort, 
after  passing  through  fire,  becomes  also  white  and  light, 
as  there  will  be  voids  remaining  after  the  particles  of 
wood  which  composed  part  of  it  are  consumed.  In 
those  mixed  bodies  a  matter  is  discovered  which  is 
solid  and  transparent,  resembling  crystal.  The  cele- 
brated Boyle  makes  mention  of  them  in  his  essay  on 
the  origin  and  virtue  of  precious  stones.  He  says: 
"There  is  a  lake  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  which  like  any 
other  abounds  with  fish.  At  the  bottom,  rocks  are 
discovered  with  masses  attached  to  them,  which  are 
clear  and  transparent  as  crystal.  They  are  of  several 
colors,  some  white,  brown  and  amber." 

It  is  not  well  known  what  kind  of  wood  it  is  that 
petrifies  in  Lough  Neagh;  according  to  the  general 
opinion,  it  is  the  holly;  but  it  has  been  observed,  that 
the  grain  of  the  petrified  wood,  after  being  polished 
becomes  variegated,  whereas  the  holly  does  not.  It 
would  be  more  reasonable  to  say  that  petrification 
operates  upon  the  wood  (which  is  the  oak,  broom  and 
yew  tree),  that  grow  on  the  borders  of  the  lake,  or  its 
vicinity;  the  agreeable  smell  which  it  produces  would 
make  one  think  it  to  be  cedar.  As  to  the  time  requisite 
for  this  petrification,  it  has  not  been  ascertained;  some 
branches  of  holly  are  seen  which,  it  is  said,  were 
petrified  in  seven  years;  as  to  the  precise  time  which 


49 


might  be  necessary  it  matters  not,  but  the  truth  of  the 
phenomenon  is  incontestable. 

It  is  observed  that  petrifaction  is  produced,  not  only 
in  Lough  Neagh  but  also  within  its  environs,  to  the 
distance  of  eight  miles,  even  upon  high  and  sandy  soil 
to  which  the  waters  of  the  lake  do  not  appear  to  have 
access.  This  discovery  by  destroying  the  system  which 
attributed  the  virtue  of  it  to  the  water  exclusively, 
seems  to  aflSx  it  to  the  soil,  or  at  least  to  supply  it  with 
that  quality  by  the  power  of  the  rain,  or  vapors  which 
arise  from  the  lake. 

Although  the  phenomenon  of  petrifaction,  like  many 
others  which  we  perceive  in  nature,  be  extraordinary, 
it  is  not  supernatural;  however,  as  it  is  not  allowed 
man  to  fathom  into  all  things,  the  cause  of  it  is  per- 
haps sought  for  in  vain.  The  learned  attribute  it  to  the 
water  or  to  the  air.  Water,  being  fluid,  is  capable  from 
its  condensed  gravity  of  conveying  strong  particles  in 
its  current.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  vapors  which 
come  from  the  earth.  It  is  easy  to  conceive  that 
pieces  of  wood  which  have  lain  for  some  time  hori- 
zontally under  the  earth  having  preserved  the  pores 
and  tubes  which  served  as  conduits  to  the  juice  that 
nouished  them  during  vegetation,  easily  admit  into 
these  tubes  fluid  bodies,  and  that  the  particles  of  stony 
matter  with  which  they  are  loaded  being  of  a  sulphur- 
ous and  saline  nature,  separate  themselves  in  their 
course,  and  penetrate  into  the  sides  of  the  tubes  when 
the  movement  of  the  liquid  is  gentle,  whereas  too  rapid 
a  motion  is  injurious  to  petrifaction.  In  the  course  of 
time  a  more  abundant  concretion  of  these  particles  is 
formed  into  a  solid  body,  which  by  its  corrosive  quality 
is  substituted  for  an  equal  quantity  of  wood,  by  chang- 
ing the  form  of  those  bodies  and  introducing  that  of 
stone.  It  is  nearly  thus  that  the  changing  of  iron  into 
copper  is  accounted  for,  which  a  fountain  of  running 
water,  near  the  copper  mines  of  Hembrunt  in  Hungary 
and  at  Newsohl  in  Germany  produces.  Great  advan- 
tages arise  at  present  to  Ireland  from  this  phenomenon; 
bars  of  iron  that  lie  in  a  stream  of  water  which  flows 


50 


from  the  copper  mines  in  the  County  of  Wicklow,  be- 
come changed  after  seven  weeks  into  copper,  which  is 
caused  by  the  great  quantity  of  vitriol  accompanying 
the  particles  of  copper,  and  prepares  a  mceptacle  for 
them  by  consuming  the  iron. 

To  be  able  to  judge  of  the  influence  of  the  air  as  it 
regards  petrifaction,  we  must  consider  the  different 
circumstances  of  that  element.  The  phenomenon  can- 
not be  attributed  to  the  exterior  air  which  forms  the 
atmosphere  of  the  globe;  it  being  a  much  lighter  fluid 
than  water,  its  degree  of  rarefaction  and  motion  is 
therefore  too  great  to  support  the  particles  of  petrifying 
matter,  and  conduct  them  to  the  equilibrium  necessary 
for  petrifaction.  Petrifaction  is  produced  in  the  earth, 
consequently  it  is  more  the  effect  of  the  interior  than 
the  exterior  air;  the  earth,  like  the  animal  body,  re- 
ceives much  matter,  and  is  purifled  in  proportion  which, 
according  to  the  season  or  climate,  causes  the  different 
phenomena  of  thunder,  rain,  fever,  plague  and  other 
epidemic  disorders.  It  receives,  likewise,  into  its 
cavities  much  of  the  same  kind  of  air  which  surrounds 
the  globe;  but  as  the  situation  of  the  interior  air  is 
different  from  that  of  the  exterior,  in  regard  to  the 
variety  of  matter  which  it  generates  and  the  causes 
which  sometimes  rarefy,  sometimes  condense  it,  without 
being  subject  to  the  violent  agitation  produced  by 
storms  and  hurricanes,  to  which  the  exterior  air  is 
exposed,  it  must  naturally  produce  different  effects. 
Thus,  without  offending  against  the  laws  of  physics,  we 
may  imagine  it  to  be  capable  of  bearing  particles  of 
stone  or  other  petrifying  matter  into  the  pores  and 
tubes  of  wood  which  it  meets  in  its  course.  This  is 
sufficient  to  account  for  the  phenomenon  of  petrifaction. 

The  waters  of  Lough  Neagh  are  also  considered  to 
be  very  salutary  for  such  as  are  attacked  by  scrofula, 
and  other  like  distempers. 

In  the  bogs  of  Ireland,  whole  trees  are  often  found 
lying  horizontally  some  feet  under  the  earth  without 
being  petrified.  These  have  fallen,  either  by  the  violence 
of  the  waters  of  the  deluge,  which  had  torn  them  from 


51 


their  roots,  or  more  probably  which  the  Normans  had 
felled  in  the  valleys  that  were  then  covered  with  wood, 
in  order  to  impede  the  efforts  of  the  Irish  coming  to 
attack  them;  it  is  a  stratagem  of  war,  practiced  even  to 
this  day.  These  trees  are  sometimes  seen  burned  at 
the  thick  end,  no  doubt  because  the  barbarians,  not  hav- 
ing sufficient  axes,  made  use  of  fire  to  fell  them.  It  is 
easy  to  suppose  that  trees  covered  with  branches  and 
leaves,  and  heaped  one  upon  another,  might  have 
stopped  the  mire,  which  the  waters  that  ran  in  the  val- 
leys carried  along  with  them,  and  in  succession  of  time 
have  formed  banks  sufficient  to  prevent  the  running  of 
the  waters  and  cause  them  to  overflow  the  neighboring 
lands.  Lakes  and  bogs  are,  of  course,  formed  by  the 
stagnation  of  those  waters  loaded  more  or  less  with 
Btrange  bodies;  the  matter  whereof  they  are  composed 
is  an  accumulation  of  dried  herbs,  hay,  heath,  roots,  and 
other  things  produced  by  stagnant  waters,  and  forms  in 
its  mixed  state  but  one  spongy  substance,  which  easily 
admits  the  waters,  and  covered  in  course  of  time  those 
trees  altogether  that  had  contributed  to  its  growth. 
Some  of  the  bogs  of  Ireland  are  twenty  feet  deep  from 
their  surface  to  the  bottom,  which  is  a  kind  of  potters' 
clay  or  sand.  Thousands  of  acres  are  seen  in  different 
districts  in  that  country,  which  considerably  deduct 
from  the  product  of  the  island;  otherwise  it  is  extremely 
fertile.  The  only  benefit  to  be  derived  at  present  from 
the  bogs  in  Ireland  is  the  turf,  which  is  cut  for  fuel. 

Lake  Lene  is  no  less  remarkable  than  Lake  Neagh; 
it  lies  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the  island,  in  the 
County  of  Kerry.  It  is  divided  into  the  upper  and  lower 
lake,  and  contains  in  the  wholeabout  three  thousand 
square  acres;  it  is  bounded  south  and  east  by  the  Moun- 
tains Magnerton  and  Turk;  west  by  Glena;  to  the  north 
of  it  is  a  beautiful  plain,  ornamented  with  fine  country 
seats,  and  on  the  northeast  is  the  town  of  Killarney. 
These  mountains  are  covered  from  the  base  to  their  top 
with  the  oak,  yew-tree,  holly,  and  the  arbutus,  which 
represent  in  their  different  degress  of  vegetation  an 
agreeable  variety  of  colors,  green,  yellow,  red  and  white, 


52 


forming  an  amphitheatre  which  recalls  in  winter  the 
charms  of  the  spring.  Some  cascades  are  formed  by  the 
falling  of  the  waters  from  the  summit  of  these  moun- 
tains, particularly  from  Magnerton,  whose  murmurs, 
being  repeated  by  echoes,  add  still  more  to  the  charms 
of  this  spot.  On  the  top  of  this  mountain  is  a  lake,  the 
depth  of  which  is  not  known;  in  the  language  of  the 
country  it  is  called  *Toulle-feron,"  which  signifies 
"Hell's  hole."  It  frequently  overflows,  and  rolls  down 
in  frightful  torrents.  Lake  Lene  contains  several  islands 
which  resemble  so  many  gardens;  the  arbutus  takes 
root  among  the  rocks  of  'marble  in  the  midst  of  its 
waters.  Nennius  says,  in  his  treatise  upon  the  wonders 
of  Ireland,  that  "there  are  four  mines,  namely,  tin,  lead, 
iron  and  copper,  which  form  four  circles  around  the 
lake."  He  adds  that  "pearls  are  found  in  it  which  Kings 
wear  for  ear-rings."  There  are,  indeed,  some  precious 
stones  in  this  lake,  and  in  its  neighborhood  mines  of 
silver  and  copper,  more  especially  the  latter,  which  at 
present  makes  of  itself  a  great  branch  of  trade. 

The  Giant's  Causeway  in  the  County  of  Antrim,  in 
the  north  of  Ireland,  where  the  coast  is  elevated  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  is  another  wonder  that  merits  the 
attention  of  the  curious.  This  causeway,  which  is  in  the 
form  of  a  triangle,  extends  from  the  foot  of  a  mountain 
into  the  sea  to  a  considerable  distance;  its  apparent 
length,  when  the  waters  retire,  is  about  six  hundred 
feet.  It  consists  of  many  thousand  pillars,  which  are 
pentagonal,  hexagonal  and  heptagonal,  but  irregular,  as 
there  are  few  of  them  of  which  the  sides  are  equally 
broad;  their  size  is  not  uniformly  the  same,  varying 
from  fifteen  to  twenty-six  inches  in  diameter,  and  in 
general  not  more  ^.han  twenty.  All  these  pillars  touch 
one  another  with  equal  sides,  which  are  so  close  that 
the  joints  can  be  scarcely  perceived;  they  are  not  all 
equally  high;  they  sometimes  form  a  smooth  surface 
and  sometimes  are  unequal.  These  pillars,  none  of 
which  are  of  a  single  piece,  are  composed  of  many 
unequal  ones,  from  one  to  two  feet  high;  and  what  is 
still  more  singular,  these  pieces  are  not  joined  by  plain 


53 


surfaces,  being  set  one  into  the  other  by  concave  and 
convex  outsides,  highly  polished,  the  same  as  the  sides 
of  the  adjoining  pillars.  There  are  some  places  where 
this  colonnade  is  elevated  above  the  earth  thirty-two 
and  even  thirty-six  feet,  but  we  are  ignorant  of  its  depth. 
People  have  dug  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  columns  to  the 
depth  of  eight  feet,  and  it  was  found  to  be  the  same  all 
through. 

The  stone,  as  to  the  substance,  is  a  homogeneous 
body,  which  admits  of  no  mixture,  and  is  extremely 
hard;  when  broken  it  is  found  to  have  a  fine  and  shining 
grain;  it  is  heavier  than  other  kinds  of  stone,  resists 
tools  of  the  very  best  temper,  and,  of  course,  cannot  be 
cut;  still  it  dissolves  in  the  fire. 

Besides  the  Giant's  Causeway,  some  other  colonnades 
of  the  same  kind  are  discovered  on  the  land  side;  the 
most  considerable  is  composed  of  fifty  pillars,  whereof 
the  middle  one  is  forty  feet  high,  and  the  others,  on  the 
right  and  left,  diminish  like  the  pipes  of  an  organ;  it  is 
on  that  account  the  inhabitants  have  given  them  the 
name  of  "The  Organ." 

Is  the  Giant's  Causeway  a  work  of  nature  or  of  art? 
That  is  a  question  of  controversy  among  the  learned  of 
England  and  of  Ireland.  Those  who  maintain  that  it  is 
the  effect  of  nature  prove  it  according  to  the  rules  of 
geometry;  they  cite  a  proposition  out  of  Euclid,  accord- 
ing to  which  "there  are  but  three  figurefe  which  can  form 
a  plain  and  continued  surface,  viz.:  six  equilateral  tri- 
angles, four  squares  and  three  hexagons.  But  they  say 
these  rules  of  art  have  not  been  observed  in  the  Giant's 
Causeway,  which  is  composed  of  polygons  having  un- 
equal sides,  although  they  are  very  well  adapted  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  adjoining  pillars,  which  cannot  be 
attributed  to  a  superior  intelligence."  It  is  added:  "The 
joining  of  those  pieces  which  compose  the  pillars 
appears  to  be  a  work  of  nature";  whereas,  in  all  other 
columns,  both  ancient  and  modern,  the  pieces  are  joined 
by  flat  surfaces,  and  it  cannot  be  conceived  how  the 
joining  of  the  stones  that  form  this  causeway  could  have 


54 


been  made  without  an  infinite  number  of  instruments 
which  are  not  known  to  us. 

This  system  of  reasoning,  though  plausible,  is  not 
satisfactory;  for,  besides  our  not  being  able  to  deny  a 
thing  because  we  cannot  conceive  it,  it  is  certain  the 
arts  have  had  their  revolutions  and  that  there  have 
been  many  which  formerly  prevailed  that  have  not 
come  down  to  us. 

The  inhabitants  of  Ireland  are  tall  and  well  made; 
the  strong  exercises  which  tend  to  fortify  the  nerves  and 
render  the  body  vigorous  were  at  all  times  practiced 
among  them.  Hunting,  horse  racing,  foot  racing, 
wrestling  and  other  like  exercises  form  still  their  usual 
amusements.  We  attribute  to  Lugha  Lam  Fada,  one  of 
their  ancient  Kings,  the  institution  of  military  exercises 
at  Tailton  in  Meath;  those  exercises  consisted  in 
wrestling,  th^  combat  of  gladiators,  tournaments,  races 
on  foot  and  on  horseback,  as  we  have  seen  them  insti- 
tuted in  Rome  a  long  time  after  by  Romulus  in  honor  of 
Mars,  which  were  called  "Equiria."  Those  games  at 
Tailton,  which  Gratianus,  Lucius  and  O'Flaherty  call 
"Ludi  Taltini,"  were  celebrated  every  year  during  thirty 
days,  that  is,  fifteen  days  before  and  fifteen  days  after 
the  first  of  our  month  of  August.  On  that  account,  the 
first  of  August  has  been  and  is  still  called  in  Ireland 
**Lah  Lugh-Nasa,"  which  signifies  a  day  in  memory  of 
Lugha.  These  olympiads  always  continued  among  the 
Milesians  until  the  arrival  of  the  English.  We  discover 
to  this  day  some  vestiges  of  them,  without  any  other 
change  than  that  of  time  and  place.  Wrestling,  which 
we  call  in  France,  "Le  tour  du  Breton,"  the  exercise  of 
gladiators,  and  races  pn  foot  are  still  on  festival  days 
their  common  diversion  in  various  districts  of  Ireland, 
and  the  conquerors  generally  receive  a  prize.  The 
plains  of  Kildare  are  celebrated  for  the  great  concourse 
of  nobility  who  assemble  there  every  year.  Race  horses 
are  brought  there  from  every  province  in  the  kingdom, 
likewise  from  England  and  other  countries;  consider- 
able wagers  are  bet  on  these  occasions  and  more  noble- 


55 


men  are  mined  by  them  than  by  any  other  mode  of 
gaming. 

"The  Irish/'  says  Camden,  "are  warlike,  witty  and 
remarkable  for  the  just  proportion  of  their  limbs.  Their 
flesh  and  muscles  are  so  supple  that  the  agility  which 
they  possess  is  incredible."  Good,  an  English  priest  who 
wrote  in  the  sixteenth  century,  after  having  been  for 
many  years  in  Ireland,  a  professor  of  humanity,  gives 
the  following  description  of  its  inhabitants:  "They  are 
a  nation,"  he  says,  "to  be  praised  for  their  strength,  and 
particularly  for  the  activities  of  their  bodies;  for  a 
greatness  of  soul;  they  are  witty  and  warlike,  prodigal 
of  life,  hardy  in  bearing  fatigues,  cold  and  hunger; 
courteous  and  kind  to  strangers,  constant  in  their  love, 
hating  also,  seldom  forgiving,  too  credulous,  greedy  of 
glory,  and  quick  to  resist  injuries  and  insults." 

"Of  all  men,"  says  Stanihurst,  "the  Irish  are  the  most 
patient  in  fatigue,  the  most  warlike;  rarely  do  they 
suffer  themselves  to  be  cast  down  even  in  their  heaviest 
afflictions." 

Ireland  is  divided  into  four  provinces — in  ancient 
times  it  had  five;  namely:  Leinster  in  the  east,  Ulster 
in  the  north,  Connaught  in  the  west,  and  Munster  in  the 
south.  These  are,  again,  divided  into  two-and-thirty 
counties — a  system  of  Anglo-Norman,  or  English,  inven- 
tion, and,  according  to  the  learned  Dr.  Joyce,  savant  and 
historian,  they  generally  represent  the  older  native  ter- 
ritories and  sub-kingdoms.  King  John,  "Lord"  of  Ireland, 
formed  twelve  of  them  in  the  twelfth  century — Dublin, 
Kildare,  Meath,  Uriel  (or  Louth),  Carlow,  Kilkenny, 
Wexford,  Waterford,  Cork,  Kerry,  Limerick  and  Tipper- 
ary.  Henry  VIII.  divided  Meath  proper  into  two  coun- 
ties and  called  one  Westmeath.  King's  and  Queen's 
Counties  were  formed  in  the  reign  of  Mary  I,  who 
married  Philip  II.  of  Spain,  out  of  the  old  district  of  Leix 
and  Offaly.  Hence  their  capitals  are  called,  respectively, 
Philipstown  and  Maryborough.  The  County  Longford 
was  formed  out  of  the  territory  of  Annaly  by  Deputy  Sir 
Henry  Sydney  about  1565.  The  same  official  divided 
Connaught  into  six  counties — Galway,  Mayo,  Sligo,  Ros- 


56 


common,  Leitrim  and  Clare.  The  latter  County,  al- 
though situated  on  the  Connaught  bank  of  the  River 
Shannon,  was  subsequently  given  to  Munster,  because  it 
had  formed  a  part  of  that  province  in  ancient  times. 
Antrim  and  Down  were  organized  into  counties  early  in 
the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  Lord  Deputy  Perrot, 
about  1584,  formed  seven  others  out  of  Ulster;  namely: 
Armagh,  Monaghan,  Tyrone,  Coleraine  (now  Derry), 
Donegal,  Fermanagh  and  Cavan.  Dublin  County  at  first 
included  Wicklow,  but,  in  1605,  during  the  reign  of 
James  I.,  Sir  Arthur  Chichester  made  the  latter  a 
separate  County. 

The  existing  division  of  the  Counties  among  the 
Provinces  is  as  follows — Munster  comprises  Clare,  Cork, 
Kerry,  Limerick,  Tipperary  and  Waterford;  Ulster  con- 
tains Antrim,  Armagh,  Cavan,  Donegal,  Down,  Fer- 
managh, Derry,  Monaghan,  and  Tyrone;  Connaught  has 
Galway,  Leitrim,  Mayo,  Roscommon  and  Sligo;  Leinster 
comprises  Carlow,  Dublin,  Kildare,  Kilkenny,  King's 
County,  Longford,  Louth,  Meath,  Queen's  County,  West- 
meath,  Wexford  and  Wicklow. 

The  Provinces  show  the  following  proportions — 
Munster,  6.064,579  acres;  Ulster,  5,475,458;  Leinster, 
4,871,118;  Connaught,  4,392,043.  The  Island  is  further 
subdivided  into  316  baronies,  2,532  parishes  and  60,760 
townlands,  which  average  about  300  acres  each.  These 
are  figures  with  which  every  student  of  Irish  history 
should  be  familiar. 

Of  the  above  area  only  2,357,530  acres  are  under  the 
plow;  14,712,849  acres  are  devoted  to  hay  and  pasture,  of 
which  12,000,000  acres  could  be  cultivated  to  crops.  But 
it  is  a  question  whether  such  a  thing  would  be  desirable, 
considering  the  great  demand  and  the  high  price  for  hay 
and  cattle,  beef  and  mutton.  It  would  give  employment 
to  a  large  number  of  people,  but  experts  assert  that  the 
profits  on  hay  and  cattle  are  larger  than  on  grain  and 
potatoes.  Next  to  hay,  the  largest  area,  something  more 
than  1,000,000  acres,  is  planted  to  oats,  and  only  590,000 
acres  to  potatoes,  which  is  surprising,  as  potatoes  are 
the  principal  food  of  the  Irish  peasant,  and,  as  some  one 
has  remarked,  "are  his  food  and  drink  and  clothing." 


57 

PERIOD  OF  GREATEST  EMIGRATION. 


Table  showing  the  number  of  Emigrants  who  left 
Ireland  from  January  1,  1846,  to  January,  1878. 


Years. 

No.  of  Emigrants. 

Years. 

No.  of  Emigrants. 

1846 

105,955 

1862 

70,117 

1847 

215,444 

1863 

117,229 

1848 

178  159 

1864 

114  169 

1849 

254,425 

1865 

101,497 

1850 

249,054 

1866 

99,467 

1851 

289,721 

1867 

80,624 

1852 

190,322 

1868 

61,018 

1853 

173,148 

1869 

66,568 

1854 

140',155 

1870 

74!855 

1855 

91,914 

1871 

71,240 

1856 

90,781 

1872 

77,102 

1857 

95,081 

1873 

90,149 

1858 

64,337 

1874 

73,184 

1859 

80,599 

1875 

51,462 

1860 

84,621 

1876 

37,587 

1861 

64,292 

1877 

38,503 

Total  3,592,779 


Of  the  above,  2,618,646  arrived  at  United  States  ports. 

In  1845,  1846  and  in  1847  the  potato  crop  had  failed. 
For  a  time  Ireland  seemed  almost  given  over  to  hunger 
and  death.  Thousands  died  miserably  and  in  starvation. 
Others  fled  across  the  sea,  seeking  refuge  in  America, 
to  hand  down  to  their  children  and  their  children's 
children,  born  in  the  American  Republic,  a  bitter  recol- 
lection of  the  misery  they  had  endured  and  the  wrongs 
that  had  been  inflicted  upon  them.  When  the  famine 
was  at  an  end,  it  was  found  that  Ireland  lost  two  mil- 
lions of  her  population.  Before  the  famine  she  had 
eight  millions.  All  through  the  famine  the  government 
had  done  nothing.  Private  charity  in  England  and  in 
America  had  done  something.  America  came  to  the 
rescue  most  nobly.  The  English  government,  if  it  could 
not  appease  the  famine,  was  itself  active  in  devising 
coercion  bills  to  put  down  the  spirit  of  violence  which 
misery  and  starvation  might  haply  have  engendered  in 
the  Irish  people.  Irish  emigrants  to  the  United  States 
in  1911  numbered  33,922. 


EAMONN  DE  VALERA, 

President  of  the  Irish  Republic. 


TERENCE  MACSWINEY, 


Lord  Mayor  of  Cork,  died  a  martyr  for  his  country, 
October  z5th,  1920,  after  a  hunger  strike  lasting  74 
days,  fighting  for  Ireland's  freedom. 


SOME  IRISH  PHRASES 


WRITTEN  PHONETICALLY 
WITH  TRANSLATIONS 


These  sentences  are  laid  out  to  follow  one  another 
in  the  natural  order  of  conversation. 

It  is  desirable  that  the  exact  pronunciation  be 
given  by  someone  who  knows  them  or  has  heard 
them  before. 


Boll  oh  yeea  urth  God  save  you 

Deea  iss  Mwirra  yeev  God  and  Mary  to  you 

Shay  dhu  vaha   You  are  welcome 

Gu  morrir  avodh   May  you  live  long 

Kay-hee  will  thu?  How  are  you? 

Thawim  gu  mauh  I  am  well 

Kunuss  thaw  thu  fain?... How  is  yourself? 

Mog  golore  Wei)  enough 

Iss  mauh  ay  shin   That's  good 

Will  ain  shkale  ogguth?. .  .Have  you  any  news? 

Neel  more -awn   Not  much 

Thor  ishtoch   Come  in 

Dhoon  un  dhurrus  Shut  the  door 

Law  braa   Fine  day 

Thaw  shay  mor  shin  ...  .It  is  so 

Sig  sheece   Sit  down 

Kaydh  meela  fawilte   A  hundred  thousand  wel- 
comes 

Gurra  mohiguth   Thank  you 

Slawinte  booth  Health  to  you 

Will  thorth  urth?  Are  you  thirsty? 

Thaw  uck-rus  urrum  ....I  am  hungry 

Thaw  thirsha  urrum   I  am  tired 

Ole  rudh  aigin   Drink  something 

Naw  bock  lesh  Don't  mind  it 


Caw  roush?   Where  were  you? 

Veece  in  Ayrin  I  was  in  Ireland 

Dain  thoum  ay?   What  time  is  it? 

Neel  iss  oggum   I  don't  know 

Obbir  ourawn   Sing  a  song 

Neel  ourawn  oggum  I  have  not  a  song 

Kurrig  urth   Hurry  up 

Fon  gu  foel   Wait  for  a  while 

Gum  mauh   Good  (Well  done) 

Mauh  acoUeen  Good  girl 

Mauh  afar   Good  man 

Ourawn  ella   Another  song 

Iss  kumma  lum   I  don't  care 

Fon  suckir   Keep  quiet 

Naw  beem  bowra   Don't  be  bothering  me 

Peea  lath   .'  God   be   with  you  (More 

power  to  you) 

Beg  reenka  oggin  We'll  have  a  dance 

Areenka  thu  lum  Will  you  dance  with  me 

Reenka  may   I  will  dance 

Thurrum  dhu  lauv  Give  me  your  hand 

Hane,  dhoe,  tree,  kahir.    One,  two,  three,  four,  five, 

cooig.  shay,  shocht   six,  seven 

Avoorneen  machree   Darling  of  my  heart 

Fee-ugh  ay  shin  anish  ....  See  that  now 

Noch  dass  ay  shin   Isn't  that  nice 

Thaw  shay  gu  hauling. ...  It  is  delightful 

Kodh-ay  shin?   What  is  that? 

Naw  brish  ay   Don't  break  it 

Faug  morshin  ay  Leave  it  so 

Boo-il  ay  Strike  him 

Naw  dane  ay  shin  Don't  do  that 

Konna  haev   Why 

Bee  kee-ul  ogguth  Have  sense 

Kay  hay  shin?   Who  is  that? 


Shay  shin  Shawn  That  is  John 

Gow-im  pawrdhoon 

ogguth  I  beg  your  pardon 

Thurrum  kuppawn  tay. . . .  Give  me  a  cup  of  tea 
Maw  shay  dhu  hel  ay,...  If  you  please 

Thaw  shay  fuar  It  is  cold 

Iss  ulk^ay  shin  That's  bad 

Thawn  earth  ogguth  You  are  right 

Will  thu  raig  Are  you  finished 

Thaw  may  sawsthu  I  am  satisfied 

Naw  bee  koint   Don't  be  talking 

Naw  bee  mogga  foom  Don't  be  fooling  me 

Kuggur  illeh  Whisper  here 

Iss  more  a  throoa  ay  shin.  That's  a  great  pity 

Naw  daroodh  ay  shin  Don't  forget  that 

Thurrum  kippeen  sullish . .  Give  me  a  match 

Ire-ig   Get  up 

Deea  lynn  iss  Mwirra  God  with  us  and  Mary 

Ayreh  gu  braugh  Ireland  forever 

Day-luan,  Day-mawirt,      Monday,    Tuesday,  Wed- 

Day-kaydheen    nesday 

Dayurdheen,  Day-heena,   ^  Thursday,    Friday,  Satur- 

Day-sohurrin    day 

Day-dhounig  Sunday 

Thaw  shay  in  oum  dhul 

avolleh  It  is  time  to  go  home 

Thaw  shay  in  oum  dhul 

ochulla  , ....  It  is  time  to  go  to  bed 

In  annim  an  Auhir,  oggus   In  the  name  of  the  Father, 

un  Vick  oggus  un  sprid,      and  of  the  Son  and  of  the 

Naov,  Amen    Holy  Ghost,  Amen. 

Slawn  lath  Goodbye 

Bannoght  Day  lath  The  blessing  of  God  with 

you 

Gu  nire-ee  aw  lath  Good  luck  to  you 


I 


i 


